Britney Spears held in "tough" psychiatric ward

Sick Britney Spears is under 24-hour supervision in a psychiatric ward where screams can be heard through the night, according to a US report.

The pop princess apparently cannot even bathe by herself and is forced to wear the mandatory green robe and hospital wristband.

Patients at the UCLA Medical Center psych ward are reportedly given doses of sleeping pills and anti-anxiety medication, with doctors regularly asking if they are suffering feelings of self-harm.

Britney, 26, was rushed to hospital in the early hours of Thursday morning after a string of cop cars and motorbikes arrived at her Beverly Hills home.

The decision to finally bring her in for evaluation was made after the singer confessed that she had been up since Saturday - meaning more than 100 hours without sleep. She is believed to be on a 'mental health evaluation hold' on the orders of her psychiatrist, who works out of the UCLA Medical Center.

The medic reportedly visited her earlier in the evening, and was alarmed at her reckless driving and her conduct, and felt her condition had deteriorated. The psychiatrist decided Britney needed to be hospitalized on a 5150 hold, which means she is considered a danger to herself and others.

A former patient of the UCLA psychiatric ward told X17online.com that the ward was a "tough" environment to live in, with patients getting agitated and screams ringing out throughout the night.

Fights apparently break out in the common area on some occasions - due to paranoia and the fact that many people there are detoxing.

The source said that Britney will be held in the ward for at least 72 hours, and up to 14 days if she is still deemed to be dangerous.

Nurses and security guards supervise the patients around the clock and visitors are allowed to come for just one hour a day during the week - between 6.30pm and 7.30pm. At weekends the visits are extended to between 1pm and 3pm.

The psychiatric ward consists of two wings, with 10 rooms in each - most of which have two beds in. None of the rooms have televisions, but there is a TV in the communal area.

According to the source, patients are divided into two categories - addicts and bi-polars - with the highest risk people being restrained by wristbands in their beds.

Most of the patients are apparently between 18 and 50-years-old, and they are kept entertained with activity groups and newspapers.

The source claims Britney will be encouraged to sleep as much as possible for the first few days, and will be given sleeping pills and anti-anxiety meds to help her do so.

After that, she will reportedly be put on Depakote Seroquel and Lithium for the bi-polar disorder, and Ativan for anxiety.

Britney will allegedly not be allowed outside for the first 72 hours. After that she can visit and outdoor court for one hour a day.

The source said doctors will visit Britney once a day and ask her questions such as "Are you able to sleep?", "Are you hearing voices?", "Are you paranoid?"

The medics will also apparently ask if she thinks about self-harm or committing suicide.

It is the second time in a month that Britney has been placed on a 5150 Hold.

The first occurred on January 3 this year, when she locked herself in the bathroom and refused to give up custody of her sons to ex-hubby Kevin Federline.

On that night, the Toxic star was strapped down on a stretcher, looking dazed and confused, before being loaded onto an ambulance and taken to Cedars Sinai Medical Center in Beverly Hills.