Mental Disorders and "The Sopranos" Quiz

Answer: Panic attacks

In the pilot episode, Tony passes out at a family barbeque. He is given medical tests that come back negative, which makes him realize that while there is nothing physically wrong with them, he does suffer from panic attacks. These attack cause him to have trouble breathing, which often leads to him losing consciousness.

Answer: Bulimia

Hunter's bulimia is alluded to in a few episodes. In one episode, Meadow and A.J. go to the hospital to visit Livia, their grandmother. Meadow takes the opportunity to visit another floor, where Hunter is hospitalized due to her eating disorder.

In another episode, after Meadow and Hunter get into trouble for hosting a party at Livia's empty house, Hunter mentions that her parents are reluctant to punish her because they fear that she will start purging again. Hunter also advises Meadow that she should start purging.

Answer: Guilt over keeping a secret

Big Pussy has been suffering from serious back problems which aren't responding to medical treatment. Dr. Melfi thinks that the problems may be due to him feeling guilty over hiding something. This strikes a nerve with Tony, who has suspected for a while that Big Pussy may be an FBI informant.

Answer: Alcohol abuse

Dr. Melfi abuses alcohol, which she confesses to her own psychiatrist. Right after taking Tony back on as a patient again, she finds herself drinking right before her appointments with him, as she considers them a cause of stress.

Answer: Borderline personality disorder

Dr. Melfi and Tony have discussed his mother and her problems in many of their sessions. In one session, Dr. Melfi quotes from the DSM entry on borderline personality disorder--a disorder where individuals often experience instability of both mood and relationships. Tony reacts in anger to this theory and physically assaults Melfi.

Answer: Overdose of pills

Artie attempts suicide right after realizing that he can't repay a monetary debt to Tony. He loaned money to the brother of a woman he was in love with to help start up a business venture. When the venture fell through, Artie was unable to recollect the money to pay Tony and feared that Tony wouldn't accept this as an answer.

Answer: Masochism

Ralphie most likely is a masochist, based on what his lovers, Janice and Valentina, have told Tony. According to Valentina, Ralphie prefers to have his lovers do painful things to him, which causes him sexual satisfaction.

Answer: Jackie Aprile, Jr.

Meadow was unaware of the deaths of Big Pussy, Richie and Ralphie. However, Jackie was her boyfriend for a while, and although the two broke up prior to Jackie's death, Meadow takes it very hard. Indeed, it is the first time she has experienced the death of someone her own age--a shocking blow.

Answer: Livia Soprano

Livia is dead, but her death was due to a stroke. She never attempted suicide during the course of the show.

Vin Makazian was a corrupt cop who gave Tony a lot of vital information for a price. He threw himself off a bridge because a lot of his illegal activities were coming to light.

Gloria Trillo was one of Tony's girlfriends. She attempted suicide before meeting Tony. After they break up, Tony later finds out that she killed herself, which sparks feelings of guilt in him.

Irina Peltsin was a Russian woman involved in a relationship with Tony for a long time. After Tony breaks up with her, she attempts suicide via pill overdose.

Answer: Drug abuse

Christopher has been abusing heroin for much of the show. After a while, however, it interferes with his relationships and with his work. After the intervention, Christopher is set to rehabilitation.

Answer: Leave Tony

Although Carmela is under the belief that psychiatrists are meant to be completely non-judgmental, her therapist is not shy in expressing to her that she should leave Tony, as he is not good for her. Carmela thinks about this, but at the time, does not leave him. Several years later, however, she does leave him temporarily.

Answer: As a child, the day he saw his father cut off Mr. Satriale's finger

As a child, Tony snuck into the back of Satriale's butcher shop (the shop that he uses as a front for his business today). His father cut off Mr. Satriale's pinky finger because he couldn't pay a debt. Later, seeing his father bring home meat to his family brings on the attack.

Answer: Panic attacks

Just like his father, A.J. also has panic attacks from time to time. His first time was after football practice on the field. However, the school assumed that he was merely dehydrated, and his parents don't find out until he passes out at home several episodes later.

Interestingly enough, Tony finds out from Hesh that his father, Johnny, also had panic attacks occasionally.

Answer: Her choice in men

Janice and her therapist come to the realization that it's her choice in men causing problems. Janice dated Richie Aprile, a gangster who was physically abusive. She then went on to date Ralph Cifaretto, who was very similar to Richie. On the advice of her therapist, Janice breaks up with Ralph.

Answer: Big Pussy

Meadow goes into therapy briefly after feeling depressed about Jackie Aprile, Jr.'s death. Carmela goes to therapy with Tony, to Dr. Melfi, and then later, she sees another psychiatrist on her own. After Tony confesses to several of his closest friends that he's been seeing a therapist, Paulie mentions that he went to therapy for a while. Big Pussy, however, has never mentioned or been seen in therapy.