The mafia boss was having a dreadful time dealing with loss. But he wasnt struggling with the loss of lives,or loss of freedom. Doc,its my hair, the mobster from the ndrangheta crime syndicate confessed to his psychiatrist in jail. Im afraid of losing my hair. And look at these spots on my arm. See them? he half-pleaded. But your hair is fine. And there arent any spots, Dr Gabriele Quattrone tried to reassure his patient. Quattrone is one of a tiny corps of psychotherapists who have treated Italian organised crime bosses or their family members. Patients include dons haunted by nightmares,turncoats tormented after ratting,wives left frigid by rigid codes of loyalty. Quattrone,a neuropsychiatrist,treated his ndrangheta patient with tranquilisers and introspection. Its the stress of 20 years of being a fugitive, he told the man,a boss in Reggio Calabria. Yeah,Im stressed. Im stressed because Im innocent, the boss retorted. These are indeed tense times for Italys mobsters. Police crackdowns and a rebellion among businessmen expected to pay protection money have left some sons of organised crime families unsure they are cut out to take their fathers and grandfathers place. But seeking help is risky. Palermo psychologist Girolamo Lo Verso recalled the case of a mobsters son who told another therapist,If my father knows I come here,hell kill us. Lo Verso teaches at Palermos University of Studies,which will soon offer a masters course in Mafia psychology. Few jailed mobsters also complain of nightmares. They see terrifying images,but not of people theyve killed. One mobsters was haunted by thoughts of his terminally ill 12-year-old daughter. I cant sleep because I hear the voice of my daughter, the mobster said. Its not fair that I cant see her. Lo Verso recalled a woman who was leaving her mobster husband. She came to Verso to gain custody of her kids. The woman was accompanied by another man. The pair would go away to hotels and sleep together. The man would undress and get aroused,but the woman never showed sexual excitement. She had the Mafia hardwired in her,Lo Verso concluded noting,like many Mafia wives,she was the daughter of a mob boss,familiar with Cosa Nostra mobs code that the wife never betrays the husband. In short,she was married to the mob.
