Kanye West's nervous breakdown was triggered by the anniversary of his mother's death'

Kanye West's hospitalisation last week was the result of a 'nervous breakdown'.

The rapper and father of two was rushed to hospital in Los Angeles over a week ago after he reportedly began hallucinating and lashed out at paramedics, and has remained at UCLA Medical Center since.

According to TMZ, Kanye suffered a 'nervous breakdown triggered in large part by the anniversary of his mother's death.'

Sources very close to Kanye tell TMZ ... he was increasingly becoming a powder keg of emotions in the weeks leading up to his hospitalization at the UCLA Medical Center ... fueled by  a shocking lack of sleep and the pressures of touring, running his businesses, parenting and providing emotional support to his wife who was suffering her own emotional trauma after the Paris robbery.

But sources say the trigger for the breakdown was Donda's death back in November 2007. Her funeral was November 20  the same day he cancelled his show at the L.A. Forum. The following day -- November 21 - Kanye cancelled the remainder of the tour and hours later suffered the breakdown.

People close to Kanye tell TMZ he never effectively grieved over his mom's death and has always had a difficult time in November, but this time he reached the breaking point. 

Kanye,has had trouble handling stress over the last few months, and in the week or so before the breakdown he started to unravel.