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RUHS, Jaipur, M.Sc Nursing Entrance Exam-2018
Mental Health Nursing
Easy

In dissociative identity disorder the host identity refers to?

Appeared in: RUHS, Jaipur, M.Sc Nursing Entrance Exam-2018

Explanation

  • The 'host' identity is defined as the personality that existed before the development of other distinct personality states or 'alters'.
  • This identity is often, but not always, the one that presents for treatment and carries the person's legal name.
  • It is the original self, around which other identities have formed as a coping mechanism, typically in response to severe trauma.
  • The host is frequently described as passive, dependent, and depressed, while alters may embody different traits.

Why Other Options Were Wrong

  • Option A: The first new identity to emerge is, by definition, an 'alter', not the host. The host is the original identity that was present before any new ones appeared.
  • Option B: While the host identity may be present for a significant amount of time, it is not necessarily the most dominant. Other alters can be more dominant or controlling at various times.
  • Option D: Aggressiveness is a trait that may be characteristic of a specific type of alter (e.g., a 'protector' or 'persecutor' alter), not the host identity itself. The host is often more passive.

Related Visual

Visual explanation — Related Visual
Clinical Relevance
  • Nursing practice connection: This is primarily an exam-oriented knowledge point with limited direct bedside application, so retain Definition of 'host identity' in Dissociative Identity Disorder (DID) as background academic context rather than a clinical decision trigger.
  • Identifying and working with the host identity is a cornerstone of therapy for DID, as it is often the part of the self that is most connected to the individual's life before the trauma.
  • Nurses must be prepared to interact with multiple identities (alters), each with different needs, memories, and behaviors. The primary nursing goal is to ensure the patient's safety, as some alters may be self-harming or suicidal.
  • What if? If the presenting personality is an aggressive alter, not the host, the nurse's immediate priority shifts from assessment to de-escalation and ensuring the safety of the patient and others before attempting to establish a therapeutic rapport.
How to Approach the Question
  • First, identify the key term in the question: 'host identity'.
  • Next, recall the specific definition of this term within the context of 'dissociative identity disorder'.
  • Evaluate each option against the definition. The host is the original personality.
  • Eliminate options that describe 'alters'—the other identities that emerge.
  • Option A describes the first alter. Option B describes dominance, which can vary. Option D describes a trait of an alter. Option C correctly defines the host as the pre-existing identity.
Concept Tested & Keywords
  • Concept Tested: Definition of 'host identity' in Dissociative Identity Disorder (DID).
  • Stem keywords: dissociative identity disorder, host identity
  • Lead-in keywords: refers to
  • Negative lead-in flag: false

Question ID

Q7lHNw8GF7loK0iDKp37PS

Reference Book

E6 Kaplan Sadock's Synopsis of Psychiatry-2022 (pp 1-3768 of 3768) p. 1412-1414

E6 Robert Boland, Marcia L. Verduin - Kaplan and Sadock's Comprehensive Text of Psychiatry-Wolters Kluwer Health (2024) (pp 1-16525 of 16525) p. 6334-6336

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