A growing body of research has demonstrated the role of psychosocial and behavioural risk factors in the pathogenesis and prognosis of cardiovascular disorders. Recently, the type D ("distressed") personality construct has been proposed as a strong risk factor for cardiovascular morbidity and mortality. Type D personality is characterized by high levels of two personality traits: negative affectivity (e.g. worry, irritability, and gloom) and social inhibition (e.g. lack of self-assurance and reticence). The data on type D personality as a risk factor for cardiovascular disease has been limited to few research groups and there is a need to replicate those data in other populations.