Mischa Barton 'placed under psychiatric hold'

Actress Mischa Barton, former star of hit television series The OC, has been placed under involuntary psychiatric hold by the Los Angeles Police Department, according to reports.

LAPD officers arrived at the Hollywood home of Barton, 23, on Wednesday (local time), after responding to a non-emergency call from the star. A patrol car arrived at the scene and began assisting the actress with a "medical issue," according to a spokesperson for the LAPD.

"We assisted her with a medical issue and removed her from her home," the spokesperson told People.com. She added that no paramedic staff were involved and no arrests have been made. She refused to comment any further, citing confidentiality laws.

Psych hold

Celebrity news website Access Hollywood claims that Barton, best known for her role on axed drama series the O.C, has pulled a Britney and been placed under an involuntary psychiatric hold (also known as a 5150) by police and carted off to Cedars-Sinai Medical Center.

The gossip-hardy among you will remember Britney was placed under a 5150 twice at the height of her meltdown in early 2008. Under a 5150, authorities can hold a person involuntarily (for up to 72 hours) if they present a danger to themselves or others.

Barton was last year charged with driving under the influence of alcohol and possessing marijuana. She was sentenced to 36 months probation, and ordered to attend a rehabilitation programme.

"I wanted to prove to the court that I would take it completely seriously, so I went to rehab to prove I was sober," Barton told UK fashion magazine Marie Claire following her stint in rehab.

“It really helped in getting the more serious aspects of my case dropped because, you know, that’s what they want to hear; you’re not an alcoholic and you don’t have a problem," she added.

"So I did it in the most low-key way possible – I didn’t make a fuss about it and I didn’t tell a lot of my friends. I just did the program and got through it.”

News of Barton's reported hospitalisation comes hot on the heels of an announcement made by her rep on Thursday. Her mouthpiece said that Barton would not be attending the premiere of her new film, Homecoming, - she didn't explain why.

Barton's rep, Craig Schneider, tells People.com that cops were only called to her home to protect her from unwanted media attention.

"Police were involved due to Ms. Barton's celebrity status; to ensure her safe transfer to medical treatment for which she remains hospitalised as per the recommendation of her doctor."

No strife

The LAPD has just spoken to OK! magazine and said Barton is not in any strife with the law.

“She has not been detained, she wasn’t arrested. There were no other individuals involved. We responded to Mischa Barton’s home, for a medical issue that we are not at liberty to discuss. Yesterday at 3am, we were dispatched to her home and assisted her with her medical issue.”

Meanwhile, Morgan J. Freeman, who directed Barton in her new film, has released a statement about the troubled starlet.

“I along with everyone on the Homecoming team are saddened to hear that Mischa Barton will not be able to attend the film’s premiere tonight in New York,” he said in a statement. “Her performance in Homecoming is fantastic, and she will be missed at our premiere.”

E! News reports that this was the second call for medical help made from Barton's home this week. The first call was made after an "unidentified 30-year-old man fell down the stairs and dislocated his knee," says their report.

RadarOnline reports that Barton's family has grown "increasingly distressed" over the star's behaviour for some time.

Quoting an unnamed source, the gossip site says Barton's "erratic behavior" has been a cause for concern.

"Her family had grown increasingly distressed over her erratic behavior over the past several weeks," the snitch said. "They are now in constant contact with the medical team at Cedars."

The snitch adds that the starlet had "a very difficult time when she first arrived at Cedars, but right now, at this moment she is doing a little bit better."

Source: The New Zealand Herald