【答】网友提供的句子，仅是一个原因状语从句，缺少主句。既然如此，为了分析便利，干脆把because 也去掉，只分析这个句子：

He had psychotic depression and he starved himself which I am sure was just as pleasant as it sounds.

【翻译】他患有精神病性抑郁症并想把自己饿死，我觉得，这就像听起来一样“叫人愉快”。（听起来愉快，但实际不愉快，而是痛苦。）

【分析】

1. which I am sure was just as pleasant as it sounds：定语从句。which 指代前文整个内容。原文把which 翻译成“这种过程”。

2. I am sure，从句中的插入成分。意为“我相信；我肯定；我觉得”。原文把它翻译成“不难想象”。

3. 去掉插入语I am sure 后，句子为：which was just as pleasant as it sounds，字面意思是：“这个过程像听起来那样是一样的愉快。” 正话反说，“听起来愉快”，实际上不愉快。

【重要提示】英语中的sound, seem, appear, look 等感官动词，表达的意义往往跟实际情况相反，因为“表面上的东西，不是真实情况的反映”。又如：

Mary appears very happy, but actually she is not. 玛丽表面看起来很高兴，但实际上她并不开心。