Could Britney Spears be suffering from Stockholm syndrome? The famous psychological disorder – in which kidnapping victims feel attached and show sympathy for their captors – has been linked with Spears and her relationship with paparazzi Adnan Ghalib. In spite of all the “sleeping with the enemy” jokes, it seems Spears may really be doing just that.

Now some believe that Britney Spears may be experiencing a mild version of the disorder in her relationship with British paparazzo Adnan Ghalib.

“When you see her seeming like she’s friends with the paparazzi, she’s got, like Stockholm syndrome,” actress Patricia Arquette told Contactmusic.com. “I mean she’s becoming friends with her captors. She’s being torn apart by this business.”

[From ABC News]

No, people aren’t basing the Stockholm assertion just on the psychological diagnosis of Patricia Arquette. Professionals seem to think Britney really could be suffering from a mild version of it. But to be fair, she’s got about 13 different mental issues going on, so it’s a little hard to sort out one from the other.

…her new relationship with one of her tormentors strikes some clinical psychologists as a sign of co-dependency or a variation of Stockholm syndrome, named after a 1973 bank robbery hostage standoff in Sweden. In that case, the victims became emotionally attached to their captors, even defending their actions.

“When people are struggling with psychological problems and substance abuse, their experience of the world is altered and they will often gravitate to the people who create the most intense stimuli,” says Patricia Saunders, a New York psychologist. “Some of the characteristics of persistent paparazzi are similar to stalkers. And for Britney, she’s looking for any port in a storm. The elements of Stockholm syndrome come from that sense of “If you can’t beat them, join them.”

Saunders said the relationship also reminded her of some of her own clients who enact a savior/victim fantasy. “It might be that he has some pathological attachment to her, to rescue her and to save her,” she explains. “To someone who’s drowning, like her, they’re drawn to that.”

[From ABC News]

Something tells me Adnan Ghalib’s motivations aren’t trying to rescue Britney, but just to try to take advantage of her as best he can. A lot of stories have said that Ghalib has been obsessed with Britney for years, and while I don’t doubt that, I don’t think there’s any reason to believe he’s trying to help her in any way.

Some celebrity photographers were equally cynical about the relationship, noting that Ghalib’s agency recently posted pictures of the two of them looking at pregnancy test kits in a Rite Aid pharmacy.

“He, out of anyone, knows all their tricks,” says one shutterbug who asked not to be named. “And could make it so she was not photographed all the time. It only leads me to believe that is what she wants.”

[From ABC News]

Last night Adnan was conspicuously absent from his ever-present post at Britney’s side. Good thing for him, since four paps were arrested for reckless driving in an attempt to follow her. One even tried to force Britney off the road.

Four photographers were arrested for reckless driving after a late night car chase of pop star Britney Spears on the outskirts of Los Angeles, police said on Thursday. Los Angeles police spokeswoman Sara Faden said the four were among a group of paparazzi seen driving at high speed in the Mission Hills area of the city around 11:30 p.m. on Wednesday on the trail of the troubled singer.

“Britney Spears was part of the group, but was not driving recklessly,” Faden said. She said four men were booked for reckless driving and each ordered to put up $5,000 bail.

[From Reuters]

I’m not sure if Britney’s considered moving to Antarctica to get away from the press, but I think it’s time she really think about it. Granted there aren’t many Rite Aids there where you can go and look at pregnancy tests (oh and by the way, she’s said it was for her friend. And I’m sure Britney Spears runs a lot of errands for her friends). Things just get worse and worse for her every day, and it’s hard to summon any emotion for her anymore. I can’t really do the “hopefully she’ll realize ________ and get things back on track now” thing anymore. She won’t. She’ll just keep spiraling and living her life in a barely functioning state of existence until she dies. I’m not saying that’ll be soon – she could live like this until she’s 90. But I’m pretty sure she’ll never change.

Picture note by Jaybird: Though Britney was at least LOOKING a little less gross lately, she’s clearly reverted back to gutter Britney. In the header she is with Adnan grabing coffee and some dinner in Sherman Oaks on another night out last night. Images thanks to Splash Photos. Below, Britney shops at Kitson Men in L.A. later last night. They opened the store up late for her, and comped over $30,000 worth of merchandise. Weirdo friend Sam Lufti said reports that Britney walked around in nothing but her pantyhose were complete lies. Apparently she was much too sane for that – she walked around in nothing but her pantyhose and a guy’s shirt. Images thanks to WENN.