The results of this exploratory study suggest that TB patients who show a more rapid rate of recovery during the early stages of hospital treatment can be distinguished from the slower recoverers on the basis of age, acuteness of illness, stage of treatment, and body type. Slow recoverers are more depressed, hypochondriacal, self-preoccupied, and socially withdrawn. Spread of recovery was generally not related in a significant way with psychiatric diagnosis although schizoid individuals were prone to be slow recoverers, whereas aggressive personalities improved more rapidly.