Type D personality

Many studies have demonstrated the role of psychosocial and behavioral risk factors in the etiology and pathogenesis of cardiovascular disorders. Previous studies have shown relationships between some personality characteristics and the risk for coronary heart diseases. Recently, a new personality construct, the type D or ‘distressed' personality, has been proposed. Type D personality is characterized by the joint tendency to experience negative emotions and to inhibit these emotions while avoiding social contacts with others. Type D personality may be identified by using the scales measuring global personality traits. Some evidences confirm the role of heritability in development of type-D personality.The findings of various studies indicate that type-D personality is an independent risk factor of psychological distress, heart diseases, adverse clinical prognosis in cardiac patients and increased mortality. Evidence confirms the relationship between type-D personality and cardiovascular reactivity, HPA dysregulation leading to elevated serum levels of cortisol, and psycho-neuro-immunological processes. These alterations may be factors which mediate the association between type-D personality and clinical outcome in cardiac patients.Identification of cardiac patients with type-D personality and application of psychological interventions in their rehabilitation would be needed. In addition, type-D personality may be a personality construct to be considered not only in cardiovascular diseases but also in other psychosomatic disorders.