Judge Denies Amanda Bynes' Request to Leave Psychiatric Hold at Mental Hospital

Amanda Bynes will continue to stay at the psychiatric hospital where she was involuntarily placed. On Thursday, a California judge denied the troubled actress the right to leave psychiatric hold, reports TMZ.

The 27-year-old former child star has been held at the psychiatric facility for more than a week. In a hearing at the psych ward, the judge dismissed her lawyer's argument that the hospital had no legal basis to hold her because she is not a danger to others and is able to take care of herself.

Bynes was involuntarily committed to a psychiatric ward in California last week, following her detention by Ventura County sheriff's deputies, after she set a fire in a driveway of a home close to her parents' house in Southern California. She was originally supposed to undergo a 72-hour mental evaluation, however, her stay was extended to two weeks by doctors.

Bynes' parents, Rick and Lynn, filed for a conservatorship that would grant them control over their daughter's personal and financial affairs, which includes her medical decisions. Rick and Lynn's lawyer cited their daughter's drug abuse, paranoia and excessive spending habits as reasons for seeking a conservatorship.

In court papers, the actress' parents described their daughter as "appearing to have a substance abuse problem" and being "extremely paranoid about being watched, including at our residence."

"She would cover smoke alarms with towels, tape windows shut and cover her car dashboard with cardboard and tape out of fear that cameras were watching her from inside these places," states the documents.

In addition, they said it appeared she has "body image" issues and is obsessed with the idea she and others are "ugly." They also said that the former child star talks "incessantly about cosmetic surgeries that she wants" and they have "received large doctor bills," reports the New York Daily News.

However, last week Ventura County Superior Court Judge Glen M. Reiser delayed a decision on a conservatorship request from her parents. That judge said he wanted to hear from the actress and get a full report before making a decision. He set a new hearing for Aug. 9.