Rep: Mischa Barton 'making improvements'

Mischa Barton is "making improvements" and planing to return to work just one week after she was hospitalised in Los Angeles, says her spokesperson.

The former O.C. star was taken to hospital last Wednesday after police responded to a non-emergency call from her home. It was later revealed that authorities were helping her with an undisclosed "medical issue".

In a statement, her representative Craig Schneider said that the 23-year-old was "still seeking treatment but making improvements".

He declined to reveal what treatment she was receiving, amid unconfirmed reports that she had been sectioned and placed under psychiatric care at Cedars-Sinai Medical Centre.

Schneider added that Barton is hoping to start work on her new CW show The Beautiful Life later this month. A spokesperson for the network previously confirmed that production on the drama would begin on July 31.

It was previously speculated that producers on The Beautiful Life had been considering the possibility of hiring a temporary replacement for Barton until she recovered from her illness.