1. What is the difference between the terms "disease course" and "illness trajectory"?

• There is no difference since both terms refer to the progression and the phases of a disorder.
• The underlying difference stems from whether the terms are employed by physicians or service providers.
• Disease course involves issues such as quality of life while illness trajectory involves discrete points on the continuum in how the disorder progresses from initial diagnosis to acceptance.
• Disease course refers to the symptoms and the characteristics of the disorder, while illness trajectory emphasizes the social and psychologic issues confronted by patients and families who experience health problems.