Treatment begins for troubled Britney

Medical staff were today trying to reverse the spiralling problems that led to Britney Spears being committed to a hospital psychiatric ward while police defended the huge escort they provided to take her there.

The pop singer, accompanied by more than a dozen police officers and two heicopters, was taken to a Los Angeles medical centre before dawn yesterday in what one officer would only say was an effort to "get help" for the troubled pop star.

It was her second 72-hour commitment in four weeks, though her previous stay eventually lasted less than two days and was followed by more bizarre antics that have accompanied her divorce and bruising child custody battle.

The law allows a person to be placed on an involuntary psychiatric hold for up to 72 hours if they are believed to be a danger to themselves or others.

Spears' mother, Lynne Spears, was seen leaving the UCLA Medical Centre's psychiatric hospital yesterday morning. Asked if her 26-year-old daughter was all right, she replied: "Yeah."

Under the law, doctors may keep an individual under round-the-clock observation but may not medicate the person without his or her permission unless there appears to be grave danger, said Dr Bruce Spring, assistant professor of clinical psychiatry at the University of Southern California.

"The hold is not a carte blanche for treatment," said Dr Spring, who is not connected to Spears' case.

Spears' public emotional spiral began in November 2006 when she filed for divorce from Kevin Federline, the father of her infant sons, one-year-old Jayden James and two-year-old Sean Preston.

Generally, a person on psychiatric hold receives a physical and mental evaluation and undergoes tests that can include X-rays and blood samples. Doctors can also recommend a course of treatment during that time.

If a person is still considered a danger after the initial hold, doctors can extend the confinement to up to 14 more days and a court-ordered hearing is held at the hospital during that time to determine if the person should be let go.

An estimated 40 to 100 people are committed against their will in Los Angeles County every day, Dr Spring said. Most, however, arrive with only an escort of two police officers or a psychiatric mobile response team.

"It's unusual that there would be a parade of people," Dr Spring said of the circus-like atmosphere under which Spears arrived.

The pop star was seen arriving at the hospital in an ambulance, accompanied by the type of escort normally reserved for a president.

Nearly a dozen officers on motorcycles, as well as more in police cars and in a pair of helicopters hovering overhead, shepherded her to the hospital.

Her visit drew complaints from neighbours who contacted the Federal Aviation Administration about the helicopters.

Police Captain Sharyn Buck said some people complained, but the motorcade was provided to get Spears through a paparazzi swarm without endangering her or the public.

"It's not preferential treatment by the LAPD, it's protecting public safety," Ms Buck said.