Little is presently known of the implications and consequences of rehospitalizations of former mental patients. This research attempts to assess the consequences of rehospitalization for the patient, his family and for the professional (his psychiatric social worker) who attempted to serve him while he lived in the community. It examines the ways in which the various persons involved perceive the patient--his role in the community and his readmission. It is based on data concerning 249 consecutive readmissions of leave of absence patients occurring at Stockton State Hospital during a five and one-half month period. Results indicate that rehospitalization causes a breakdown in communication between the patient and his family, and that overt rejection is often the result. Also, those patients who are able to be self-supporting financially are least likely to be readmitted to the hospital. (Author/HMV)