Correlations between personality factors and coronary artery disease: from type A behaviour pattern to type D personality

During the last 50 years, many studies have analysed the correlations between personality factors, behavioural pattern, personality type, psychiatric disorders and coronary artery disease (CAD). Although consistent evidence of causal association between CAD and major depressive disorders does exist, the role and importance of personality factors and character traits in CAD development and manifestations are still debatable. We reported the most important studies from the literature on type A behaviour pattern (TABP), the first correlated to CAD. After the initial enthusiasms, large clinical trials raised doubts about the role of TABP as CAD risk factor. We reported subsequent researches aimed at extracting from TABP components predisposing to atherosclerosis, such as hostility and anger. Finally, we analysed a recent personality type (type D) introduced in 1995 and identified as a negative prognostic factor in CAD patients.