Britney Spears to check into a psychiatric ward

Britney Spears will voluntarily check into a psychiatric ward after she is released from hospital, it was reported today.

The Toxic singer is set to undergo an extended stay at an undisclosed in-patient clinic in California, sources close to the troubled star said.

The insider said: "Britney had a complete nervous breakdown and there is no drug or alcohol problem with her."

Spears, 26, is currently under suicide watch at Cedars-Sinai hospital in Los Angeles after being rushed to the facility on Thursday. She is expected to be held there for a total of 72 hours.

The mother-of-two reportedly took her children hostage and guzzled vodka and prescription drugs before police and medics arrived at her home. She was pictured being hauled from her Beverly Hills mansion strapped to a stretcher and looking dazed and confused.

Now insiders say she will be moved to a secret location to help her get well.

In the wake of her breakdown, her father, Jamie Spears, her ex-husband Kevin Federline and pal Sam Lutfi are now said to be "united" in the fight to save Spears.

A source told celebrity website PageSix.com: "The only thing that is getting them through this horrible time is realizing that she has now taken the first fragile steps in this very long and complex journey."

The source also revealed that the three men "huddled" together in the early hours of Friday morning in the psychiatric ward visiting room at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center sand "broke down and cried over the horrible events that occurred late Thursday night."

They are allowed brief, five-minute visits with Spears, who is currently under sedation.

The source added: "They have been crying and leaning on each other for support during this tragic time."

It is thought Kevin Federline, the father of Spears' two infant sons, Sean Preston, two, and Jayden James, one, has been making occasional visits to the hospital in between looking after his children.

The source continued: "He's asking for frequent updates on the mother of his children."

It comes as Federline was granted full temporary custody of the boys on Friday. Spears has had her visitation rights suspended in the wake of her hospitalization.