Does Britney have a mental illness, and is her condition grave?

Now the talk is that Britney Spears has multiple personality disorder. Or that she's ready to die.

But much of that talk comes from wanna-be pop psychologists (as well as Dr. Phil, who fits that category - the only difference being that he has a degree).

Many people of this ilk are in the media, each of whom have come up with their own diagnosis for a fallen pop star who has been shadowed and harassed by a band of mosquito-like paparazzi - their media colleagues - for two years now.

TMZ and US Weekly are always ready to jump on the Britney-assault bandwagon, swooping overhead like a vulture who's ready to pounce on the dead carcass. Here is the latest news from both publicity mags/websites that appears to over-hype what is a common practice engaged by all respectable news organizations:

"Britney Spears hasn't died, but the Associated Press has an obituary already written, should something happen to the "at-risk" former pop star.

TMZ spoke to AP Entertainment Editor Jesse Washington who confirmed the news. Washington told Us Weekly, 'We would never wish any type of misfortune on anybody and hope that we would never have to use it until 50 years from now, but if something were to happen, we would have to be prepared.'

It is not uncommon for news organizations like AP to have obituaries prepared for high-profile people - the unusual thing is that they're usually prepped for the very sick or aged."

And here is the latest from People magazine, which markets itself as a respectable publication but finds itself merely repeating everything that was already published in the National Enquirer:
"Britney Spears's new habit of speaking with a British accent has some questioning her mental health.

In the past several weeks, Spears, 26, has been videotaped numerous times trading her Louisiana twang for UK inflections. On a shopping trip to Macy's in LA the other day, the singer screamed at the paparazzi, 'Get out of my [expletive] face!' - in a British accent.

Psychologist Renee Cohen isn't treating Spears, but wonders if someone should be. 'When Britney uses the British accent, or appears to take on another identity, does she know she's Britney Spears?' Cohen said."

And then we have talking heads who engage in straight-out mockery - such as what you'll see on this video (viewer discretion advised):