[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.