(AP) Fallen pop princess Britney Spears' stay in a psychiatric ward was extended Sunday, as doctors decided to keep her hospitalized an additional 14 days.

Spears was to be released from UCLA Medical Center's psychiatric hospital Sunday, but doctors and a medical officer at the ward determined that she should remain, someone close the pop star told The Associated Press. The source requested anonymity because they were not authorized to discuss the matter.

She had been committed Thursday for a 72-hour hold for evaluation.

Paramedics, flanked by a police escort of about a dozen officers on motorcycles, in cars and a helicopter, took Spears from her home to the UCLA Medical Center's psychiatric hospital before dawn Thursday.

It was the second hospitalization this year for the 26-year-old singer, who has been in spiral of bizarre behavior since November 2006, when she filed for divorce from Kevin Federline, the father of her sons, 1-year-old Jayden James and 2-year-old Sean Preston.

Since her breakup with Federline, Spears has been seen at public events in short skirts and without underwear, has shaved her head bald, run over a photographer's foot with her car, left the scene of a fender bender, flogged another car with an umbrella and abandoned a car in traffic when it had a flat tire. Recently, she was seen sitting on a sidewalk, holding her pet dog and crying.

---

Photos: Britney Goes To Court

---

Spears was hospitalized on Jan. 3 after police were called to her home when she refused to return her children to Federline following a visit. That episode resulted in her losing custody of her sons.

---

Photos: Star Treatment

---

© MMVIII The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

Back To Top