For almost 50 years researchers have tried to link personality types or behavior patterns to the risk for heart disease.

We've all heard about the driven and highly competitive behavior of people with type A personalities, compared to the more laid-back, noncompetitive characteristics of type Bs.

Studies done in the late 1950s linked the type A behavior pattern with a higher risk for heart disease. But later studies failed to prove a link between cardiovascular disease and these patterns of behavior. Instead, more and more findings have associated an increased risk of heart disease with anger, hostility, surliness, and rudeness

I don't know if a type C personality or behavior has ever been defined, but you may soon be hearing more about the latest association between an increased risk of heart disease and the type D personality. (The D may stand for "distressed.")

A recent report from the Netherlands found that type D personality was associated with a significantly increased risk of major cardiovascular events like heart attacks and strokes.

Type D individuals tend to experience negative emotions like hostility, anxiety, anger, depressed mood, tension, and a negative view of themselves. They are likely to be constantly on alert for signs of impending trouble and to overreact to stressful events. An equally important factor in the type D personality is the inability to express these emotions, which leads to feeling tense, insecure, and uncomfortable in social situations.

According to authors of the Dutch study, the difference between the type D definition and those for types A and B suggests that "how people cope with negative emotions may be as important as the experience of negative emotions per se."

We all know people who have a type D personality, and some of us may recognize this pattern in ourselves or in family members. I'm not sure what, if anything, can be done about this personality type, and more time will surely be needed to develop a thorough understanding of its importance in matters of health, especially heart health.

However, it does make sense to me to link people's negative personality traits with how they cope, or don't cope, with stressful circumstances and everyday challenges.

no... it quite honestly sounds very much like me EXCEPT for the not being able to express it bit

Double D, me.

I wouldn't say I'm hostile or angry, but everything else, yes.

No.

I mostly relate to type B.

i have a little bit of type a, type b and type d. i must be a type b.a.d.!

jerseykrs said:

Bathroom killer!!

Mach said:

what a load of crap all of this is...
the description of type D behavior is the same as type A
"Type D individuals tend to experience negative emotions like hostility, anxiety, anger, depressed mood, tension"
these all happen with regularity in all human beings
"They are likely to be constantly on alert for signs of impending trouble"
this may be a problem for anyone who lives longer than 25 years old because all people navigate through issues
"overreact to stressfull events"
if everyone lives their lives independently, what does overreact mean? are you saying compared to the average person, or compared to a researcher?
"An equally important factor in the type D personality is the inability to express these emotions"
so type d people experience hostility, anxiety, anger and depressed mood and tension but cant create hostility, anxiety, anger and depressed mood?
"A recent report from the Netherlands found that type D personality was associated with a significantly increased risk of major cardiovascular events like heart attacks and strokes."
which study? i'd like to read it... this seems to be some type of scholarly recitation so i'd like to read it, otherwise this whole article is nothing different than those church people who continually quote scripture... but are actually making the scriptures up to sound learnered
example; "it says in spumfydoodles 24:15 that the point jesus tried to make was every man for himself"
"According to authors of the Dutch study, the difference between the type D definition and those for types A and B suggests that "how people cope with negative emotions may be as important as the experience of negative emotions per se."
you know, a talking dog could say the same things... DUH!
"the difference between type a, b and d is how they process the information coming into their lives"
i doubt if they are seen as TYPES that they would do everything the SAME
"We've all heard about the driven and highly competitive behavior of people with type A personalities, compared to the more laid-back, noncompetitive characteristics of type Bs."

this entire article seems to be completely made up
cheers!
s=v=n s+v~n(sq2) 7.

totally me, except for the hostility and anger. well, usually.

jeez o man, thats me in a nutshell. Oh well, die young stay pretty.

7e7e7 said:

disclaimer ... Mach ... did not write it

Cloudbuster said:

I'll take them puppies, I will
[Edited 9/12/06 7:48am]

<---- Type D

Sounds like an awful way to live.

Cool article:

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/.../newsweek/

take the quiz here: http://heartandmindmatter...ew/176/30/

Nope!

Whap!

Sweeny79 said:

that was fun

i got mostly zeros and few ones

I think I might be one

ZombieKitten said:

Mach said:

I was a 4 on almost every single one.