Just when you think this saga can’t get any sadder, a new chapter is written. After a day in which she shows up 2 hours late for a court deposition and her attorneys resign in disgust, it took the LAPD to get the kids away from Britney Spears – who ended up in the hospital staring down a psych lockup.

Authorities were called to Spears’ home in the 12000 block of Summit Circle about 8 p.m. Thursday after Federline’s bodyguards went to her house to pick up Sean Preston, 2, and Jayden James, 1, who were scheduled to return to their father’s custody, authorities said.

By the time officers arrived at the home, Spears had turned over her younger son to the bodyguards but had locked herself in her bedroom/bathroom suite with Sean Preston, according to an LAPD supervisor familiar with the case. She was incoherent and arguing with officers in a way that made no sense, the supervisor said.

Los Angeles police determined Federline had custody of the children at that time, said Officer Ana Aguirre, a department spokeswoman. Officers waited approximately three hours before Spears agreed to leave the home; the children were turned over to Federline peacefully and with no injuries, officials said.

While officers were at the home, police said they found Spears under the influence of an unknown substance

“There was some indication that medical treatment was needed,” Aguirre said.

Spears was not arrested and was subsequently hospitalized “for her own welfare,” said Officer April Harding, another LAPD spokeswoman.

LAPD Officer Karen Smith said police have the authority when they believe someone needs medical treatment to transport that person to a medical facility. She declined to say whether a 5150 hold — a formal mental health detention used when people are determined to be a danger to themselves or others — was used, citing federal medical confidentiality restrictions.

This whole thing is spinning out of control, and has reached the point where there is legitimate concern for Spears’ safety – from herself. What was once just fodder for tabloids and tacky blogs (but not us, ‘cuz we’re a legitimate news source ) is rapidly degrading to a voyeuristic peep show at the death spiral of a onentime pop princess. Someone who can get through to Britney needs to do so now, before she ends up in an obituary.

UPDATE #1 – With that many photogs there, you knew some pretty good shots would surface. This is my favorite of the bunch. I’ve never been an an ambulance, fortunately, but I’m pretty sure they don’t put you in restraints unless there’s a really good reason – like you might kick the attendant in the nuts. As for the look on her face, I’ve seen that one before – on the face of a girlfriend many years ago as I was signing her into rehab (not to get over me, wiseass – she did that all on her own). That face says very clearly “Little Girl Lost”.

UPDATE #2 – No real surprise, but now she’s lost what little privileges she had with the kids.