PIP: Hospitalization, especially for chronic diseases, can have a number of varied effects upon a patient and his or her family members. Those effects were assessed among a sample of patients seen at Tuberculosis Research Center, Chennai. 200 consecutive patients of mean age 23.7 years upon admission with tuberculosis of the spine were considered for study. The patients were aged 18 months to 60 years. 130 patients were hospitalized, of whom 63 belonged to the operated category. 54 patients were in hospital for 4-5 months, 54 for 6 months, and 22 for more than 9 months to a maximum duration of 18 months. A number of personal and other problems related to hospitalization are listed. Noted by 84% of hospitalized patients, financial difficulties comprised by far the most often noted problem. 34% noted home sickness, 20% boredom, 18% an effect upon household responsibilities, and 17% an effect upon a household member's education.