The review summarises newer findings on the relations between personality and behavioural traits and the risk factors for coronary heart disease (CHD). After a critical analysis of the type of A behavioural pattern (TABP), the role of hostility as a crucial element of this behaviour is underlined. Emphasis is put on the cardiovascular overarousal on the psychophysiological mechanisms of TABP and on the relationship proved by the authors too, between TABP and diseases other than CHD. It appears justified to consider TABP rather as a "disease prone behaviour" especially among stress vulnerable subjects.