TV psychologist Dr Phil McGraw believes that Britney Spears is more in need of medical help than ever, even though the singer was released from hospital over the weekend. One of the most famous faces on American TV, McGraw, who spent time with Spears, 26, during her stay at the Cedars Sinai Medical Centre, has released a statement, saying: "My meeting [with Britney] left me convinced more than ever that she's in dire need of medical and psychological intervention."
The singer was admitted to hospital last Thursday following a stand-off with police during which she alleged refused to hand over her children to their father, Kevin Federline. She was eventually stretchered from her home in hysterics and held by medical staff under an involuntary psychiatric order known as a 5150 hold, which is applied to those deemed a danger to themselves or others. While the hold apparently no longer applies, Spears has lost all remaining custody rights to her children, Sean Preston, two, and Jayden James, one.
Although it was originally suspected that the singer was under the influence of an unknown substance when she was admitted to Cedars, where she has been treated for substance abuse before, her blood tests have reportedly came back negative. It has since been claimed that there is a history of depression in Spears' paternal family, and some have suggested that she suffers from a bipolar disorder, which can result in bouts of mania.
Since her release, Spears has been spotted in the company of Birmingham-born paparazzo Adnan Ghalib, who, according to this morning's Sun newspaper, she is dating.