Britney Spears now under 14-day hold at the UCLA

Troubled Britney Spears' hospitalization has been extended to an additional 14-day hold, a source close to the singer has confirmed.

Only Britney's psychiatrist, Dr. Deborah Nadel,  would have had the authority to request the involuntary stay. However, according to US reports, it is possible the singer could be out earlier if she legally demands to be released or her doctor deems her well enough for outpatient treatment.

At Los Angeles' UCLA Medcal Center, Spears, 26, is allowed to wear her own clothes and keep her own personal possessions, including toiletries. She may also see visitors every day and make and receive phone calls – but not on her personal cell phone. There are pay phones on the floor.

America's People magazine reports that the medical center has two wings, separated by a kitchen/dining room. Patients sometimes mix, especially for smoke breaks out on the deck, which is gated and surrounded by a metal fence.

The average patient sees their attending doctor every day. Since UCLA is a teaching hospital, the attending doctors are often accompanied by students. Staffers check on patients at least once an hour, even during the night.

The Resnick Neuropsychiatric Hospital is known as one of the top facilities of its kind; still, "It is a terrible situation," says a source close to the Spears family. "Britney is in a padded room. Her family is so worried about her."

Terry K. Wasserman, a veteran L.A. attorney specializing in mental health cases (who’s not involved in the Spears matter), explains that if a patient becomes combative, he or she "could be placed in a 'quiet room,' some of which are padded."

Wasserman adds: "Another possibility is being confined to a bed by leather restraints. In extreme, life-threatening situations – when the patient is a threat to oneself or medical staff – a psychiatrist can inject a person with psychotropic medication.

"A doctor can force a patient to take prescribed medication. If he or she resists taking the meds, the psychiatrist can obtain authorization to forcefully medicate the person – but only after a hearing on the matter takes place."

By Owen Williams, Feb 03 2008 © Copyright 2008 - Showbiz Spy