There are similarities and differences between acute and chronic illness. Well-intentioned medical doctors who may assume that their patients’ experiences with psychological impairment are a necessary side effect of treatment or the condition overlook opportunities for psychological intervention. //-->'); Corry M, Neenan K, Brabyn S, Sheaf G, Smith V. Cochrane Database Syst Rev. Acute illnesses usually follow this course of becoming ill, getting worse for a while, treatment or observation of the symptoms and then getting better. Chronic illness: the importance of support for families caring for a child with cystic fibrosis. Acute pain is experienced after someone has been hurt, for example a cut or broken bone.Examples of chronic conditions include osteoporosis, asthma, heart disease, osteoarthritis, kidney disease and diabetes. [CDATA[// >