Catherine Zeta-Jones checks into mental health facility

Matt Sayles

Catherine Zeta-Jones spent about five days in the unidentified facility.

Catherine Zeta-Jones, among the most regal of Hollywood's royalty, recently checked herself into a mental hospital, according to her rep.

The actress was suffering from Bipolar II disorder - also known as manic depression - according to her publicist, who said it was caused by the tension of watching her husband, Michael Douglas, fight cancer.

"After dealing with the stress of the past year, Catherine made the decision to check in to a mental health facility for a brief stay," spokeswoman Cece Yorke said in a statement.

"She's feeling great and looking forward to starting work this week on her two upcoming films."

The statement came hours after a National Enquirer cover story hit newsstands reporting that Zeta-Jones, 41, spent five days last week at Connecticut's Silver Hill Hospital, a tony facility specializing in psychiatric disorders and substance abuse.

The National Enquirer quoted "multiple sources" who said Zeta-Jones was there for drug or alcohol detox under an alias, "Terrie Kirny."

Silver Hill is an elite $1,000-a-night hospital that caters to the rich and famous.

Mariah Carey sought help there in 2001, supposedly after hearing Marilyn Monroe's voice coming from her white baby grand piano, and Billy Joel checked in the following year to dry out. He later complained "the food was terrible."

Bipolar disorder, which alternates periods of manic "up" periods with bouts of depression, afflicts about 6 million Americans.

Bipolar II - as opposed to Bipolar I - is marked by greater periods of depression and often leads to suicide.

Episodes can be triggered by major life changes.

Douglas, 66, announced in January he had beaten stage 4 throat cancer with chemotherapy and radiation. Doctors say there is a high chance it will return in the next two to three years.

The couple has two young children: Dylan, 10, and Carys, 7.Douglas's son from a previous marriage, Cameron, was sentenced to prison last year on drug charges.

"There's no question it's been a stressful year," a friend told People magazine. "She went in (for treatment) for a few days because she's about to start working, and wanted to make sure she's in top form, which she is."

According to IMDB, she is working on "Playing the Field," about soccer moms starring Gerard Butler, Dennis Quaid and Jessica Biel, and about to film a Vegas flick called "Lay the Favorite" with Bruce Willis and Justin Timberlake.

Zeta-Jones' earlier films include "Entrapment," "Traffic," "Intolerable Cruelty" and "Ocean's Twelve."

She won an Oscar for her star turn as Velma Kelly in the 2002 film of the musical "Chicago" and a best actress Tony last year for portraying Desiree in "A Little Night Music" on Broadway.

Douglas and Zeta-Jones own lavish properties around the world, including homes in Manhattan, Barbados, Aspen, Quebec and Mallorca.

hkennedy@nydailynews.com

Emmanuelle Vaugier Bijou Phillips Brittany Murphy Vanessa Marcil Maria Menounos