Spears will not receive an adequate amount of mental health treatment unless she commits herself to an extensive program

2007 was a rocky year for Britney Spears. From shaving her head, to attacking a car with an umbrella, to a performance at the MTV Video Music Awards that featured the pop star in a drugged state, Spears was in the headlines for all the wrong reasons.

Her former bodyguard even went on to testify in court that Spears was a habitual drug user and a danger to her children. Now just three weeks into the New Year, Spears has caused enough drama to convince people that she has completely lost control and become a danger to herself.

I believe that her family or the law must step in to commit Spears to an extended rehab program that not only focuses on drug and alcohol treatment but also on psychological illness.

It has become clear from recent events that drugs and alcohol are not the only reasons behind Spears’ odd behavior. Spears is suffering from a severe mental illness. A recent issue of People magazine reported that Spears has been diagnosed with bipolar disorder in the past, and her recent symptoms have psychologists claiming that she shows all signs of “classic bipolar behavior.”

Earlier this month, Spears was wheeled out of her Beverly Hills mansion after refusing to hand over her sons to her ex-husband, Kevin Federline. Earlier that night she had locked herself in a bathroom with her two-year-old son, Jayden, until authorities reasoned with her to come out. Paramedics then strapped Spears to a stretcher and she was wheeled into an ambulance.

Video that emerged from the incident showed the pop star alternately smiling and looking distraught as paparazzi took photos.

Spears was released from the hospital hours later after testing negative for drugs and alcohol. Authorities reported that they found no reason to arrest the pop star.

It is clear from the details of this incident that Spears put her two children in danger. Luckily, shortly after her stay in the hospital the judge in Spears’ custody case awarded sole custody of the two children to Federline.

In the next few days, Spears fled the country to Mexico where she spent time in and out of hotels with a paparazzi friend. She was photographed out to lunch with this friend. She was smiling and laughing, oblivious to the danger that she had put her children in days earlier.

Spears has refused help from her family and friends, including Dr. Phil McGraw, of the famous daytime TV talk show “Dr. Phil.” When Spears entered the hospital her mother called Dr. Phil and asked him to come to the hospital to stage a psychological intervention. Spears turned Dr. Phil away from her room, refusing to receive help from him.

Though Dr. Phil may have not been the best choice for Spears to receive help, this example goes to show that Spears is refusing to receive help and denying that she has a mental illness.

Psychologists report that the refusal of mental help treatment is another key symptom of those living with bipolar disorder. Her prior stints in rehab have only lasted from a few days to one week.

I believe Spears will not receive an adequate amount of mental health treatment unless she commits herself to an extensive program. McGraw later told the TV program “Entertainment Tonight” that "somebody needs to step up and provide a vector to get this young woman into some quality care." I couldn’t agree more.

Music critics claim that the pop star’s random hospitalization and mental breakdowns are helping her album sales. Her latest album, “Blackout,” jumped seven spots on the charts in Australia, the U.K. and the U.S. When the album originally debuted last October it entered the Billboard Charts at No. 2, selling just under half a million copies.

Spears should currently be placing her need for help above her career. So it doesn’t help that Spears’ income and star power remain stable.

This past week, Spears was again denied visitation rights to her children and the judge again ruled in favor of Federline. Spears has been spotted out with friends, shopping around Los Angeles at 2 a.m. After her vehicle blew a flat tire recently she hitched a ride home with a random member of the paparazzi.

In Britney’s latest music video, “Piece of Me,” she pokes fun at the constant barrage of paparazzi that overtake her life. Yet, when she was asked recently by “the paps” if she was sick of not having any privacy, she responded, “No, I love you guys!”

Clearly, Spears’ head is not in the right place.

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