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Kane NS, Hassabelnaby R, Sullivan NL, Graff F, Litke DR, Quigley KS, Pigeon WR, Rath JF, Helmer DA, McAndrew LM. Veteran Beliefs About the Causes of Gulf War Illness and Expectations for Improvement. Int J Behav Med 2024; 31:169-174. [PMID: 36973578 DOI: 10.1007/s12529-023-10166-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 02/15/2023] [Indexed: 03/29/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Individuals' beliefs about the etiology of persistent physical symptoms (PPS) are linked to differences in coping style. However, it is unclear which attributions are related to greater expectations for improvement. METHOD AND RESULTS A cross-sectional regression analysis (N = 262) indicated that Veterans with Gulf War Illness (GWI) who attributed their GWI to behavior, (e.g., diet and exercise), had greater expectations for improvement (p = .001) than those who attributed their GWI to deployment, physical, or psychological causes (p values > .05). CONCLUSIONS Findings support the possible clinical utility of exploring perceived contributing factors of PPS, which may increase perceptions that improvement of PPS is possible. TRIAL REGISTRATION ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier: NCT02161133.
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Affiliation(s)
- Naomi S Kane
- Department of Veterans Affairs, War Related Illness and Injury Study Center, VA New Jersey Health Care System, East Orange, NJ, USA.
- VA Ann Arbor Healthcare System, Ann Arbor, USA.
- Department of Psychiatry, Michigan Medicine, 2215 Fuller Road (116C), Ann Arbor, MI, 48105-2103, USA.
| | - Raghad Hassabelnaby
- Department of Veterans Affairs, War Related Illness and Injury Study Center, VA New Jersey Health Care System, East Orange, NJ, USA
- William Paterson University, Wayne, NJ, USA
| | - Nicole L Sullivan
- Department of Veterans Affairs, War Related Illness and Injury Study Center, VA New Jersey Health Care System, East Orange, NJ, USA
| | - Fiona Graff
- Department of Veterans Affairs, War Related Illness and Injury Study Center, VA New Jersey Health Care System, East Orange, NJ, USA
| | - David R Litke
- Department of Veterans Affairs, War Related Illness and Injury Study Center, VA New Jersey Health Care System, East Orange, NJ, USA
- Department of Rehabilitation Medicine, NYU Grossman School of Medicine, New York, NY, USA
| | - Karen S Quigley
- Department of Veteran Affairs, Bedford Memorial Hospital, Bedford, MA, USA
- Northeastern University, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Wilfred R Pigeon
- Center of Excellence for Suicide Prevention, Canandaigua VA Medical Center, Canandaigua, NY, USA
- Department of Psychiatry, University of Rochester, Rochester, NY, USA
| | - Joseph F Rath
- Department of Rehabilitation Medicine, NYU Grossman School of Medicine, New York, NY, USA
| | - Drew A Helmer
- Center for Innovations in Quality, Effectiveness, and Safety, Michael E. DeBakey Veterans Affairs Medical Center, Houston, TX, USA
- Department of Medicine, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX, USA
| | - Lisa M McAndrew
- Department of Veterans Affairs, War Related Illness and Injury Study Center, VA New Jersey Health Care System, East Orange, NJ, USA
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2
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Lesnewich LM, Hyde JK, McFarlin ML, Bolton RE, Bayley PJ, Chandler HK, Helmer DA, Phillips LA, Reinhard MJ, Santos SL, Stewart RS, McAndrew LM. 'She thought the same way I that I thought:' a qualitative study of patient-provider concordance among Gulf War Veterans with Gulf War Illness. Psychol Health 2023:1-19. [PMID: 37654203 DOI: 10.1080/08870446.2023.2248481] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/16/2022] [Revised: 07/15/2023] [Accepted: 08/10/2023] [Indexed: 09/02/2023]
Abstract
Objective: Medically unexplained symptoms (MUS), such as chronic fatigue syndrome, irritable bowel syndrome, and Gulf War Illness (GWI), are difficult to treat. Concordance-shared understanding between patient and provider about illness causes, course, and treatment-is an essential component of high-quality care for people with MUS. This qualitative paper focuses on the experiences of United States military Veterans living with GWI who have endured unique healthcare challenges. Methods & Measures: Qualitative interviews were conducted with 31 Veterans with GWI to explore factors that contribute to and detract from concordance with their Veteran Affairs (VA) healthcare providers. In addition to being seen by VA primary care, over half of participants also sought care at a War Related Illness and Injury Study Center, which specializes in post-deployment health. Deductive and inductive codes were used to organize the data, and themes were identified through iterative review of coded data. Results: Major themes associated with patient-provider concordance included validation of illness experiences, perceived provider expertise in GWI/MUS, and trust in providers. Invalidation, low provider expertise, and distrust detracted from concordance. Conclusion: These findings suggest providers can foster concordance with MUS patients by legitimizing patients' experiences, communicating knowledge about MUS, and establishing trust.
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Affiliation(s)
- Laura M Lesnewich
- War Related Illness and Injury Study Center (WRIISC), Veterans Affairs New Jersey Health Care System, East Orange, NJ, USA
| | - Justeen K Hyde
- Department of Medicine, Section General Internal Medicine, Boston University, Boston, MA, USA
- Center for Healthcare Organization and Implementation Research (CHOIR), Veterans Affairs Bedford Healthcare System, Bedford, MA, USA
| | | | - Rendelle E Bolton
- Center for Healthcare Organization and Implementation Research (CHOIR), Veterans Affairs Bedford Healthcare System, Bedford, MA, USA
- The Heller School for Social Policy and Management, Brandeis University, Waltham, MA, USA
| | - Peter J Bayley
- War Related Illness and Injury Study Center (WRIISC), Veterans Affairs Palo Alto Healthcare System, Palo Alto, CA, USA
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Stanford University, Stanford, CA, USA
| | - Helena K Chandler
- War Related Illness and Injury Study Center (WRIISC), Veterans Affairs New Jersey Health Care System, East Orange, NJ, USA
| | - Drew A Helmer
- Center for Innovations in Quality, Effectiveness & Safety (IQuESt), Michael E. DeBakey Veterans Affairs Medical Center, Houston, TX, USA
- Department of Medicine, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX, USA
| | - L Alison Phillips
- War Related Illness and Injury Study Center (WRIISC), Veterans Affairs New Jersey Health Care System, East Orange, NJ, USA
- Department of Psychology, Iowa State University, IA, USA
| | - Matthew J Reinhard
- War Related Illness and Injury Study Center (WRIISC), Washington DC Veterans Affairs Medical Center, Washington, DC, USA high-quality
| | - Susan L Santos
- War Related Illness and Injury Study Center (WRIISC), Veterans Affairs New Jersey Health Care System, East Orange, NJ, USA
| | - Rachel S Stewart
- War Related Illness and Injury Study Center (WRIISC), Washington DC Veterans Affairs Medical Center, Washington, DC, USA high-quality
| | - Lisa M McAndrew
- War Related Illness and Injury Study Center (WRIISC), Veterans Affairs New Jersey Health Care System, East Orange, NJ, USA
- University at Albany, State University of New York (SUNY), Albany, NY, USA
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Health-Related Quality of Life by Gulf War Illness Case Status. INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH AND PUBLIC HEALTH 2022; 19:ijerph19084425. [PMID: 35457293 PMCID: PMC9026791 DOI: 10.3390/ijerph19084425] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/20/2022] [Revised: 03/28/2022] [Accepted: 03/31/2022] [Indexed: 12/02/2022]
Abstract
This study examines how health-related quality of life (HRQOL) and related indices vary by Gulf War illness (GWI) case status. The study population included veterans from the Gulf War Era Cohort and Biorepository (n = 1116). Outcomes were physical and mental health from the Veterans RAND 12 and depression, post-traumatic stress (PTSD), sleep disturbance, and pain. Kansas (KS) and Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) GWI definitions were used. Kansas GWI derived subtypes included GWI (met symptom criteria; no exclusionary conditions (KS GWI: Sym+/Dx−)) and those without GWI: KS noncase (1): Sym+/Dx+, KS noncase (2): Sym−/Dx+, and noncase (3): Sym−/Dx−. CDC-derived subtypes included CDC GWI severe, CDC GWI mild-to-moderate and CDC noncases. Case status and outcomes were examined using multivariable regression adjusted for sociodemographic and military-related characteristics. Logistic regression analysis was used to examine associations between GWI case status and binary measures for depression, PTSD, and severe pain. The KS GWI: Sym+/Dx− and KS noncase (1): Sym+/Dx+ groups had worse mental and physical HRQOL outcomes than veterans in the KS noncase (2): Sym−/Dx+ and KS noncase (3): Sym−/Dx− groups (ps < 0.001). Individuals who met the CDC GWI severe criteria had worse mental and physical HRQOL outcomes than those meeting the CDC GWI mild-to-moderate or CDC noncases (ps < 0.001). For other outcomes, results followed a similar pattern. Relative to the less symptomatic comparison subtypes, veterans who met the Kansas symptom criteria, regardless of exclusionary conditions, and those who met the CDC GWI severe criteria experienced lower HRQOL and higher rates of depression, PTSD, and severe pain.
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Alison Phillips L, McAndrew LM, Laman-Maharg B. Symptom attribution to a medically unexplained syndrome is associated with greater perceived severity and bothersomeness of symptoms in US military veterans. Psychol Health 2021; 37:1342-1358. [PMID: 34279140 DOI: 10.1080/08870446.2021.1952581] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/20/2022]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE Medically unexplained symptoms (MUS) are prevalent among veteran and non-veteran populations. Current biopsychosocial theory implicates a multitude of factors in MUS development and perpetuation. The current study tests whether physical symptom attribution to MUS is associated with perceived symptom severity and bothersomeness and thereby might function to perpetuate MUS, as suggested by existing theory. DESIGN AND MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES Military combat veterans (n = 243) answered postal-mail questions about their physical symptoms, severity of experienced symptoms, and attributions of these symptoms to MUS (e.g. Gulf War Illness) versus non-MUS conditions. RESULTS Independent t-tests showed support for the first hypothesis-that those who experience the symptom and attribute it to MUS will perceive it to be more severe and bothersome than those who experience the symptom but do not attribute it to MUS. Paired-sample t-tests showed support for the second hypothesis-that experienced symptoms attributed to MUS by an individual will be perceived as more severe and bothersome than experienced symptoms the individual does not attribute to MUS. CONCLUSIONS Results highlight a potential role of symptom attribution in MUS perpetuation, through greater perceived severity and bothersomeness of MUS-attributed symptoms. Possible intervention targets may include behavior ramifications, such as coping strategies; more research is needed.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Lisa M McAndrew
- War Related Illness and Injury Study Center (WRIISC), Veterans Affairs New Jersey Healthcare System, East Orange, NJ, USA.,Department of Educational and Counseling Psychology EDU220, University at Albany, Albany, NY, USA
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Kimber J, Sullivan N, Anastasides N, Slotkin S, McAndrew LM. Understanding Veterans' Causal Attributions of Physical Symptoms. Int J Behav Med 2021; 28:299-307. [PMID: 32691396 PMCID: PMC7855405 DOI: 10.1007/s12529-020-09918-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/08/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Illness beliefs are significant contributors to health outcomes. Beliefs about the cause of physical symptoms are considered particularly important among those with medically unexplained symptoms and illnesses (MUS); yet little is known about causal beliefs among those with the most severe MUS (i.e., Veterans). The goal of the current study was to examine Veteran's causal attributions of their physical symptoms. METHOD A total of 91 combat Veterans with MUS were surveyed using a mixed-methods design about the cause of their physical symptoms, physical symptom severity, and PTSD symptoms. Causal attributions of physical symptoms were analyzed through thematic response analysis and grouped into categories. Chi-square analysis was used to assess the distribution of causal attribution types across Veterans with varying physical symptom severity and PTSD symptom severity. RESULTS Veterans with MUS reported an average of 7.9 physical symptoms, and attributed the cause of their symptoms to seven different categories ("Do not Know," "Stress/Mental Health," "Deployment/Environment," "Functional/Symptom," "Medically Explained," "Medically Unexplained Syndrome," and "Lifestyle"). Exploratory chi-square analysis revealed significant differences in causal attributions across physical symptom severity and severity of PTSD symptoms. Veterans with more severe PTSD and Veterans with more severe physical symptoms were more likely to attribute their MUS to stress/mental health or to a medically unexplained syndrome compared with those with low/no PTSD symptoms and physical symptom severity. Veterans with minimal PTSD and Veterans with minimal physical symptom severity were more likely to attribute the cause of their MUS to lifestyle choices (e.g., exercise/diet) compared with those with high PTSD and physical symptom severity. CONCLUSION Veterans with MUS endorse multiple, varied causal attributions for their physical symptoms, suggesting more complex causal beliefs than typically assumed. This has important implications for patient-provider communication and development of concordance around MUS treatment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Justin Kimber
- Department of Educational and Counseling Psychology, University at Albany, State University of New York, 1400 Washington Ave Ext, Albany, 12222, NY, USA.
| | - Nicole Sullivan
- War Related Illness and Injury Study Center, Veterans Affairs New Jersey Health Care System, 385 Tremont Avenue, East Orange, 07018, NJ, USA
| | - Nicole Anastasides
- War Related Illness and Injury Study Center, Veterans Affairs New Jersey Health Care System, 385 Tremont Avenue, East Orange, 07018, NJ, USA
| | - Sarah Slotkin
- Department of Educational and Counseling Psychology, University at Albany, State University of New York, 1400 Washington Ave Ext, Albany, 12222, NY, USA
| | - Lisa M McAndrew
- Department of Educational and Counseling Psychology, University at Albany, State University of New York, 1400 Washington Ave Ext, Albany, 12222, NY, USA
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McAndrew LM, Crede M, Maestro K, Slotkin S, Kimber J, Phillips LA. Using the common-sense model to understand health outcomes for medically unexplained symptoms: a meta-analysis. Health Psychol Rev 2018; 13:427-446. [PMID: 30196755 DOI: 10.1080/17437199.2018.1521730] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/01/2023]
Abstract
Consistent with the common-sense model of self-regulation, illness representations are considered the key to improving health outcomes for medically unexplained symptoms and illnesses (MUS). Which illness representations are related to outcomes and how they are related is not well understood. In response, we conducted a meta-analysis of the relationship between illness representations, self-management/coping, and health outcomes (perceived disease state, psychological distress, and quality of life) for patients with MUS. We reviewed 23 studies and found that threat-related illness representations and emotional representations were related to worse health outcomes and more negative coping (moderate to large effect). Generally, increases in negative coping mediated (with a moderate to large effect) the relationship of threat/emotional illness representations and health outcomes. Protective illness representations were related to better health outcomes, less use of negative coping and greater use of positive coping (small to moderate effect). The relationship of protective illness representations to better health outcomes was mediated by decreases in negative coping (moderate to large effect) and increases in positive coping (moderate effect). Perceiving a psychological cause to the MUS was related to more negative health outcomes (moderate to large effect) and more negative emotional coping (small effect). The relationship of perceiving a psychological cause and more negative health outcomes was mediated by increases in negative emotional coping. Improving our understanding of how illness representations impact health outcomes can inform efforts to improve treatments for MUS. Our results suggest behavioural treatments should focus on reducing threat-related illness representations and negative coping.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lisa M McAndrew
- War Related Illness and Injury Study Center, Veterans Affairs New Jersey Healthcare System, East Orange, NJ, USA.,Department of Educational and Counseling Psychology, University at Albany, Albany, NY, USA
| | - Marcus Crede
- Department of Psychology, Iowa State University, Ames, IA, USA
| | - Kieran Maestro
- Department of Educational and Counseling Psychology, University at Albany, Albany, NY, USA
| | - Sarah Slotkin
- Department of Educational and Counseling Psychology, University at Albany, Albany, NY, USA
| | - Justin Kimber
- Department of Educational and Counseling Psychology, University at Albany, Albany, NY, USA
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Seal KH, Cohen G, Bertenthal D, Cohen BE, Maguen S, Daley A. Reducing barriers to mental health and social services for Iraq and Afghanistan veterans: outcomes of an integrated primary care clinic. J Gen Intern Med 2011; 26:1160-7. [PMID: 21647750 PMCID: PMC3181313 DOI: 10.1007/s11606-011-1746-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 30] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/10/2011] [Revised: 04/05/2011] [Accepted: 05/02/2011] [Indexed: 11/30/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Despite high rates of post-deployment psychosocial problems in Iraq and Afghanistan veterans, mental health and social services are under-utilized. OBJECTIVE To evaluate whether a Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) integrated care (IC) clinic (established in April 2007), offering an initial three-part primary care, mental health and social services visit, improved psychosocial services utilization in Iraq and Afghanistan veterans compared to usual care (UC), a standard primary care visit with referral for psychosocial services as needed. DESIGN Retrospective cohort study using VA administrative data. POPULATION Five hundred and twenty-six Iraq and Afghanistan veterans initiating primary care at a VA medical center between April 1, 2005 and April 31, 2009. MAIN MEASURES Multivariable models compared the independent effects of primary care clinic type (IC versus UC) on mental health and social services utilization outcomes. KEY RESULTS After 2007, compared to UC, veterans presenting to the IC primary care clinic were significantly more likely to have had a within-30-day mental health evaluation (92% versus 59%, p < 0.001) and social services evaluation [77% (IC) versus 56% (UC), p < 0.001]. This exceeded background system-wide increases in mental health services utilization that occurred in the UC Clinic after 2007 compared to before 2007. In particular, female veterans, younger veterans, and those with positive mental health screens were independently more likely to have had mental health and social service evaluations if seen in the IC versus UC clinic. Among veterans who screened positive for ≥ 1 mental health disorder(s), there was a median of 1 follow-up specialty mental health visit within the first year in both clinics. CONCLUSIONS Among Iraq and Afghanistan veterans new to primary care, an integrated primary care visit further improved the likelihood of an initial mental health and social services evaluation over background increases, but did not improve retention in specialty mental health services.
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Affiliation(s)
- Karen H Seal
- San Francisco VA Medical Center, San Francisco, CA 94121, USA.
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Iversen A, Chalder T, Wessely S. Gulf War Illness: lessons from medically unexplained symptoms. Clin Psychol Rev 2007; 27:842-54. [PMID: 17707114 DOI: 10.1016/j.cpr.2007.07.006] [Citation(s) in RCA: 38] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/23/2022]
Abstract
Service in the Persian Gulf in 1991 is associated with increased reporting of symptoms and distress in a proportion of those who served there. Yet despite clear evidence of an increase in symptom burden and a decrease in well being, exhaustive clinical and laboratory based scientific research has failed to document many reproducible biomedical abnormalities in this group. Likewise, there has been no evidence of an increase in disease related mortality. Formal psychiatric disorders are twice as common in Gulf War veterans, as might be expected in the aftermath of any conflict, but this too is insufficient to explain the ill-health observed. Many service personnel who returned unwell believe that they have Gulf War Syndrome, and that their ill-health is due to exposures that they encountered in theatre. Research on multiple exposures to date has not generated a plausible aetiological mechanism for veterans' ill-health. Even if medical research has failed to provide a satisfactory explanation, it remains the case that many of those affected continue to be unwell and disabled some 15 years after returning from combat. For this reason, it is time that more attention is given to developing effective interventions to relieve their ill-health and distress. In this review we discuss the importance of the wider social context, individual illness beliefs and attributions and go on to outline a model of continuing ill-health in Gulf veterans. The review concludes with some suggestions for future research priorities, in particular the need for further qualitative studies to further our understanding of the illness, in order that better treatments may be developed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Amy Iversen
- King's Centre for Military Health Research, King's College London, Institute of Psychiatry, UK.
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9
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Abstract
There is no doubt that Gulf service has affected the well-being of some of the members of the UK armed forces who served in that conflict, yet the reason for this remain unclear. At present, the debate surrounding Gulf War Syndrome (GWS) has become stagnant and highly polarized. This paper argues that a new perspective is needed to further improve our understanding of the problem and suggests that the methods and theories of anthropology, with its focus on nuances and subtleties, can provide new insights. Data were generated from 14 months of ethnographic fieldwork in the UK including participant observation, semi-structured interviews and document analysis. Anthropology provides a unique way of approaching and understanding somatic symptoms and suggests that GWS symptom reporting can be seen as a form of communication. The work focuses on the sufferers' accounts, the symptoms themselves and the context within which we find them in order to better understand what was being expressed and commented upon. Although necessary to contextualize GWS through situating it among other emergent illnesses and widespread health beliefs, this paper shows there is a need to bring back the particular. This work seeks to make sense of the cultural circumstances, specific and general, which gave rise to the illness.
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Affiliation(s)
- Susie Kilshaw
- Department of Anthropology, University College London, University of London, UK.
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