Madonna reveals Timberlake sessions were therapeutic

Madonna has revealed she found writing songs with Justin Timberlake therapeutic.

The pop superstar - who turns 50 in August - worked with Justin on her upcoming album 'Hard Candy', and says the sessions were "intimate" and "psychoanalytical".

She said: "I really enjoy writing with Justin. We had psychoanalytic sessions whenever we wrote songs first. That was the only way, because you know, writing together with somebody is very intimate - that was fun because he's open and he's got talent.

"We'd sit down and we'd start talking about situations. And then we'd start talking about issues or problems or relationships with people. We had to find a place to start talking about something we cared about.

"I haven't worked with a lot of songwriters where I'm instantly connected and start riffing and playing with the rhythm of the words. He's as interested in the rhythm of words as the meaning of words."

Madonna also spoke about adopting her son David Banda from Malawi in October 2006 - a decision which caused controversy around the world.

She told Interview magazine: "David wouldn't have lived if I hadn't taken him. It's not even a possibility."

Madonna has a seven-year-old son Rocco with husband Guy Ritchie, and an 11-year-old daughter Lourdes from her relationship with her personal trainer Carlos Leon.