Britney Spears has showed up at the Los Angeles courthouse for a custody hearing, but there were no screaming fans, no signs or banners, and no frenzied chase into the parking garage.

Dozens of photographers, reporters, sheriff's deputies and prospective jurors saw her arrive on Tuesday as a front-seat passenger in a white Land Rover. Then she disappeared into the garage.

It has been three months since Spears left a psychiatric ward and promptly stirred up a paparazzi car chase, a scene that looked like the beginning of even more erratic behaviour for the troubled pop star.

The hearing was to include discussion of a psychiatrist's evaluation of Spears, a person close to the case told The Associated Press.

Commissioner Scott Gordon, who will preside over the hearing, could modify the couple's visitation agreement Tuesday based on Spears' recent conduct, the person said.

Spears' recent public appearances have been limited to a well-received cameo on CBS' How I Met Your Mother, a role she reprised during a taping last week, a CBS spokeswoman said. The episode is set to air May 12.