Amanda Bynes: 'I am not schizophrenic'

A representative for actress Amanda Bynes has spoken out to reassure fans following the actress' stint in a rehabilitation clinic for psychiatric issues last year (13), insisting the star is not schizophrenic.

The former child star sparked fears for her health with a series of bizarre incidents and was eventually hospitalised in July (13) on a mental health evaluation hold after starting a fire on the driveway of a neighbour's house in California.

She was released in December (13) and has refused to speak publicly about her illness, but a spokesman for the Hairspray star has now spoken out to end speculation about her condition.

Lawyer Tamar Arminak tells People.com, "There has been much speculation about Amanda's medical condition. She has remained silent because she believed it was best to keep her mental health diagnosis private.

"However, she asked me to dispel certain rumours. For the record, Amanda does not have schizophrenia, nor has she ever been diagnosed with it.

"Amanda currently is on zero medication. She's devoted to living her life as healthy as possible. She's never had a history of abusing alcohol or hard drugs, and she's proud to say she's been marijuana-free for the past nine months."

Since her release, Bynes has enrolled as a student at the Fashion Institute of Design and Merchandise in California, and Arminak adds, "Amanda is very happy studying fashion and she hopes to one day design her own line."