Mariah Carey under 'psychiatric care'

Mariah Carey is under psychiatric care following her recent stay in hospital.

Her publicist Cindi Berger has admitted that the singer had suffered an "emotional and physical breakdown".

The 31-year-old, who has cancelled all public appearances, including her headline appearance at the MTV 20th birthday party, checked herself into an undisclosed hospital last week.

At the time, her spokeswoman Cindi Berger said Carey was suffering from "extreme exhaustion".

But she now says: "She has suffered an emotional and physical breakdown ... she is under psychiatric care."

Ms Berger denied reports that Carey tried to commit suicide. She said that just before the breakdown, Carey suffered cuts to her body, but the injuries were unintentional.

"She did break some dishes and glasses, and she may have stepped on them," Ms Berger said.

Carey's breakdown comes at perhaps the most critical point in her 11-year career. The singer signed a multimillion-dollar contract with Virgin Records in April after leaving Columbia Records, where she got her start.

She'll star in a movie for the first time when Glitter, about an aspiring pop star, opens later this month. She also performed the songs for the movie soundtrack.