Mischa Barton Out of Psych Ward, Ready for Life

Former O.C. starlet discharged from psychiatric wing of Cedars-Sinai after being carted off via ambulance on July 15

Ashton Kutcher and Mischa Barton's publicist are on the same wavelength…and if it were on any topic other than the starlet's health, we would suggest her publicist reassess a few life decisions.

Anyway, both are of the same mind that Barton, after a not-that-brief hospitalization for a still unconfirmed "nonemergency" "medical issue," is slowly but surely making her way back.

Craig Schneider tells E! News that Barton is "improving" and "doing well" since her discharge from Cedars-Sinai Medical Center, where she was first hauled July 15. He declined to say exactly when she was discharged.

And while Schneider has remained mum on reports that Barton's hospitalization was an involuntary psychiatric hold (à la Britney "5150" Spears), he did confirm that the former O.C. thesp has every intention of rejoining the Kutcher-produced CW drama The Beautiful Life when it resumes production in the coming weeks.

Speaking of the artist currently known as aplusk…

Kutcher too spoke encouragingly of Barton's health on Friday. While talking about the finer points of pwning all Twitter comers at a Pasadena technology conference, he made clear that the actress was just fine, thankyouverymuch.

"I can tell you right now that Mischa Barton is doing great," he said.

Great, we say. Now if only a reconciliation with her former brunette bestie were also in the works...

(Originally published July 27, 2009, at 2:02 p.m. PT)