Manager: Britney Has "Mental Issues"

Tells Barbara Walters That Pop Star Has Seen Shrink Who Says Problems Are "Treatable"

(CBS/AP)  Barbara Walters says she has been contacted by Britney Spears' manager and "very good friend," Sam Lutfi, who says the pop singer has seen a psychiatrist.

Lutfi told her the 26-year-old pop singer "is suffering from what he describes as mental issues which are treatable," Walters said Monday on ABC's "The View."

"He said that she has been to a psychiatrist and that she, I assume, is starting some kind of treatment," said Walters, a co-host on the ABC daytime talk show.

---

Photos: Britney Spears: the Early Years

---

"She has been having mood swings. She's been having trouble sleeping, and also she is in touch with her mother - 'cause we had heard she wasn't - and her mother has been very supportive of whatever it is that Britney is going to do," Walters said.

---

Photos: Standoff At Britney's

---

Lutfi has been staying with Spears constantly, "and he got in touch with us," Walters said. "I can't vouch for this, he seemed to be very knowledgeable and he certainly was very nice."

According to TV's "The Insider," it appears that there is friction between Lufti and Spears' paparazzo pal Adnan Ghalib. Cameras caught Ghalib arriving at Spears' Hollywood Hills home Monday night, only to be turned away at the gate by Lufti. Ghalib said he received text messages from Lufti saying that the only way for him to help spears was to "disappear."

Later, Spears drove to a nearby supermarket, followed by Ghalib. The two ended up back at her home with her mom, her dad, Lufti and Ghalib.

---

Photos: Britney Goes To Court

---

Police were called to Spears' neighborhood around 7 p.m. Monday after someone reported a swarm of paparazzi trespassing in the singer's gated community.

Los Angeles police Officer Mike Lopez said officers received a call Monday about a group of photographers "stepping onto the grounds" of the private neighborhood while following the 26-year-old pop star.

When officers arrived, they didn't see anyone trespassing, Lopez said. He said citations were issued for several illegally parked cars.

The one bit of good news in Spears' continuing story is that, according to court papers obtained by "The Insider" Monday, Spears was given the right to have telephone contact with her two children at last week's custody hearing. Her visitation rights, however, remain suspended.

Spears' attorney, Sorrell Trope, didn't immediately return a phone call seeking comment Monday. Spears' spokeswoman at Jive Records, Gina Orr, didn't immediately respond to an e-mail seeking comment.

Spears has spiraled downward since filing for divorce from Kevin Federline in November 2006. Her bizarre public antics include shaving her head bald, attacking a car with an umbrella and bringing along a paparazzo pal on trips to a Los Angeles courthouse in her custody case with Federline.

The singer was taken to a Los Angeles hospital by paramedics earlier this month after police were called to her home because of a dispute involving her sons Sean Preston, 2, and Jayden James, 1. She has lost custody and visitation rights with the boys.

Spears reportedly has had a rocky relationship with her mother, Lynne Spears, whose book about raising her family in the spotlight was put on indefinite hold last month after younger daughter, Jamie Lynn, 16, announced that she is pregnant.

[plusbbcather]

i am sure she had mental problem. or she couldn''t join the online club for her hook up at Largemingle.com Britney, are you interested in Plus singles. you have changed your taste?

[keithle1]

Don''t abuse drugs & alcohol, kiddies. You''ll end up like Britney. It wouldn''t surprise me if she has mental health issues but maybe most if not all of her behavior is the result of substance abuse.

PEOPLE magazine is on Britney Baby like white on rise. If she f a r t s @ 4am, PEOPLE smells it & will put out a SPECIAL EDITION.

[scarletphd]

Even Britney Spears has the right to a little privacy (all evidence to the contrary).
Posted by barbaraf4

Even Britney has the right to STAY HOME with her children. Even Britney has the right to not run around all night drinking and taking drugs and showint the entire world her pu$$y. Even Britney has the right to keep her children safe - and not drive with them on her lap, or almost drop them into the pavement in public. Even Britney has the right to seek and maintain treatment if she is so fu(ked up that she can''t properly care for her children, and not make a public spectacle of herself slobbering and incoherent in a gutter.

BUT, she gave up all of thiose rights. She chose to exhibit her illness. And so her expectation of the right to privacy is absolutely invalid.

She also gives up the right to HAVE those children.

[scarletphd]

LEAVE POOR BRITANNY ALOOOONE! THERE IS ABSOLUTELY NO PROOF AT ALL THAT SHE HAS MENTAL ISSUES!!!!!!

[barbaraf4]

Even Britney Spears has the right to a little privacy (all evidence to the contrary). If she is in treatment, then everyone shut up and hold your breath and maybe magic will happen.

Brit, as soon as you are better, replace your entire team.

[killtheliars]

HAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA

[kevzgrl]

No, Sam - ya'' think??? What an idiot - he has been her enabler for the last few months, right by her side when she is out shooting herself in the foot, night after night. He has a few "mental issues" himself, if you ask me...

[gmond]

She has mental issues, with her manager. He has a fight with his client and there are witnesses, so he calls Barbara Walters. Talk about damage control, with support like this, no wonder Britney is screwed up.

[hypnotoad72]

Drugs''ll do that to a person? Don''t tell the pro-dope supporters. Mind you, they''re so spaced out in the first place....

[kwynn21]

I figured Britney Spears had "Mental Issues" when she started taking her clothes off on stage.
THESE ARE THE PEOPLE OUR PARENTS WARNED US ABOUT!

[valentin73]

when it comes to mental issues, everyone is normal; eveyday people and celebrities alike!

[coppertales]

The rest of us have known that for years. Goes for alot of "others" in that neck of the woods too.

[erasmus6]

Manager: Britney Has "Mental Issues"


REALLY? I would never have guessed that.

[inventagod]

Drugs will do that to a gal...

[davidcoincon]

I don''t think she has mental issues. She''s just trash.

[jetlizhan]

britney spears has ''mental issues''?? say it ain''t so!! duh.

[easeup-2009]

I''ve said it once & I''ll say it again, Britney Spears was the best defensive end in NFL history.