Alexithymia is a disorder of cognitive processing of emotions. It is relatively stable during life and occurs at a low frequency in a common population, more frequently in some mental disorders (especially of depressive and anxious types). It exerts an unfavorable effect on the results of various therapeutic procedures, and since it is associated with peculiar physiological and immunological deviations, there is a probable relation to physical health and mortality, especially for cardiac reasons.

        Key words: alexithymia, regulation of affects, emotional intelligence.