Stress-induced cardiomyopathy, also known as takotsubo syndrome, imitates an acute ST elevation myocardial infarction or an acute coronary syndrome, but without concomitant coronary artery disease. It mainly affects postmenopausal women, but no established epidemiologic data of this syndrome are available to date. Furthermore, the underlying etiologies are still largely unknown. The most frequently described trigger is strong emotional stress. Supportive therapy with aspirin, beta-blockers and angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitors is recommended. The abnormal kinetics usually reverse or improve within 4-5 weeks. Compared with acute myocardial infarction, takotsubo cardiomyopathy carries a favorable prognosis. However, severe complications, including ventricular fibrillation and cardiogenic shock, may still occur.