EXCLUSIVE: Dr. Drew on Mischa Barton's Meltdown: It's Serious
July 17 2009, Published 4:40 a.m. ET
Actress Mischa Barton remains hospitalized Friday at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center in Los Angeles on a 5150 psychiatric hold, and now, Dr. Drew Pinsky exclusively tells RadarOnline.com that being held under that specific California law is "a status reserved for the most serious of psychiatric issues. The person must be a danger to their self or to others."
Dr. Drew says: "The 5150 is an imperfect mechanism because if the patient is smart enough to manipulate the situation, and tell the doctors that he/she is no longer a threat to themselves, the patient is usually released. It's very hard under California to hold a person against their will, it can be done, but it's very hard."
Drew, the best selling author of The Mirror Effect: How Celebrity Narcissism is Seducing America says that in order for the O.C. star to get better, she must get a complete diagnostic work-up that not only deals with her alleged addiction, but any depression and related psychiatric issues.
When asked if Barton could join Celebrity Rehab or Sober House, Drew said, "She is welcome to join if she is willing and able."
Drew is currently finishing shooting Sober House for VH-1, and he says the upcoming season featuring Tom Sizemore and Heidi Fleiss is unlike anything viewers have seen.
"I can't reveal too much, but let me tell you, even I was surprised by things that went down, and I have seen alot in my career," said Dr. Drew.
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