Spears is seeking treatment for "mental issues"

BEIJING, Jan. 29 (Xinhuanet) -- Britney Spears' friend and manager Sam Lufti said the pop star is seeking treatment for her "mental issues," Barbara Walters was qouted as saying by media reports Monday.

Barbara Walters said on The View that Sam Lufti called her about Spears over the weekend. "There is a man named Sam Lutfi, who is the manager and very good friend of Britney," Walters said.

"He seemed to be very knowledgeable and he certainly was very nice. He said Britney was suffering from what he describes as mental issues which are treatable. He said that she has been to a psychiatrist and ... I assume she is starting some kind of treatment. She has been having mood swings. She has been having some kind of trouble sleeping." Walters added.

According to Barbara, Lufti also said Spears has been in touch with her mother, who's supporting what she's doing.

Spears now still fights for her child custody right, which she lost early this month. The next hearing is set for Feb. 4, at which time Spears' attorneys will ask permission to withdraw from the case. A hearing on custody is set for Feb. 19.

A custody trial is set for April. Her former husband Kevin Federline's attorney, Mark Vincent Kaplan, noted outside court that the commissioner has ordered a custody evaluator to report back to him before the trial.

A magazine's research shows that many American people make part of their living off Spears, such as record companies, promoters and licensers. Her ex-husband earns a cool million off her name.

The biggest slice goes to newspapers, glossy mags and other media, which rake in 75 million U.S. dollars. The magazine concluded that Spears contributes 110 million to 120 million dollars to the U.S. economy.

(Agencies)