Last Updated: 17 Aug 2009

Another young star in psychiatric hold

Actress Mischa Barton has been displaying worrying signs of ill-health for some time now, but recently what was just concern has turned into a real fear that the young actress is spiraling out of control.

Early this year Mischa lost a massive amount of weight and was criticised in the press for it. This month she appeared bloated in the face and to be partying hard at every opportunity.

Then reports trickled through from the US that she had 'encountered problems' at her LA home and required the LAPD's help with a 'medical issue'

But now it has been revealed that Mischa, 23, was held on an 'involuntary psychiatric hold' according to stateside reports.

This is the same hold that Britney Spears was famously put under when she would not hand her sons back over to their father after a visit.

This hold means that the LA authorities can hosipitalise a person they consider to be 'a danger to themselves or others, are gravely disabled or suffer from a mental disorder.'

So far no comments have been made by Mischa's reps.