Under pressure from his family and the Peace Corps, Priven ultimately agreed to a psychiatric evaluation. He was interviewed by a psychiatrist associated with the hospital where the government had intended him to serve his commitment. His diagnosis fit the prosecution's theory; Priven had suffered a "situational psychosis" after being rejected by Gardner. Since the diagnosis determined that Priven was not schizophrenic, he could not be committed. Priven returned to New York City after his release and worked for the Social Security Administration until his retirement.