[Mourning a chronic disease: diagnostic error experienced by two families].
We report on two pediatric cases with a diagnosis of hereditary metabolic disease established for several years and secondarily disproved. Retrospective interviews conducted 1 year after the announcement of the absence of the illness, the psychological reactions were analyzed. Through this clinical experience, the authors suggest that the traumatism caused by the announcement of the diagnosis may be similar to that which occurred when invalidation of the disease is pronounced. Four steps predominate: relief, anger, guilt, and problems mourning the disease experienced in solitude.
Hépatogastroentérologie pédiatrique et maladies métaboliques, hôpital des enfants, CHU de Toulouse, 330, avenue de Grande-Bretagne, 31059 Toulouse cedex 9, France. jbaruteau@yahoo.fr
J
J
Baruteau
T
T
Cascales
D002675:Child, Preschool; D002908:Chronic Disease; D003951:Diagnostic Errors; D005192:Family Health; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008661:Metabolism, Inborn Errors / Q000175:diagnosis*