DBT Behaviour Chain Analysis Worksheet: From Problem Behaviour to Solution Analysis
DBT · DBT · Practice-informed
A fillable worksheet that slows one dated episode of a problem behaviour down to its links: what prompted the chain, what made the person vulnerable that day, the thoughts, body sensations, emotions, urges and actions that followed and what the behaviour led to. It then moves to solution analysis, pairing chosen links with a skill, a prevention plan and a repair plan. The sections follow the step order in the DBT skills training manual (Linehan, 2015). The wording and layout are original.
Underlying mechanism: DBT Behaviour Chain Analysis and Solution Analysis
What it helps with
- Describing one episode of a target behaviour precisely enough to see where it could have gone differently.
- Separating vulnerability factors that can be changed from those that cannot.
- Finding the links where a specific skill could be used, instead of a general intention to cope better.
- Planning prevention and repair so that the analysis ends in action rather than insight alone.
How clinicians use it
- Orient the client first: explain that the aim is to understand the sequence so that points for change can be found, not to assign blame.
- Agree the target behaviour with the treatment hierarchy before starting. Do not run a full chain during acute crisis. Stabilise and use a safety plan first.
- Keep a validating and curious stance and slow down at each link. Ask for the actual thought, sensation or urge rather than accepting a summary.
- Where a jump between two links is hard to follow, probe for the missing link before moving on.
- List only vulnerability factors that could be changed. Unchangeable history belongs in formulation, not in the chain.
- For each chosen link, name one skill and agree how it will be rehearsed. Pair with the TIPP and Wise Mind pages for alternative behaviours.
- Repeat the worksheet for later episodes as the pattern is worked on. If the behaviour keeps recurring despite repeated analyses, look for a critical link that has been missed.
Clinical Implementation Guide
- Agree the target behaviour and choose one dated episode.
- Work through the links in order and probe for any missing link.
- Choose change points, name a skill for each and agree a rehearsal plan.
What the worksheet looks like
| Link | Thought | Body | Emotion (0-10) | Urge | Action |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | No reply to my message | Stomach drops | Hurt 6 | Check again | Looked at phone every few minutes |
| 2 | They are ignoring me on purpose | Tight chest | Anger 7 | Hit back | Wrote a sharp message |
| 3 | I will say it before they leave me | Hot face | Shame 5 | Make it stop | Sent the message |
Clinical cautions
This worksheet supports, and does not replace, individual assessment and treatment by a qualified clinician. It is not a diagnostic or risk-assessment tool. Do not run a full chain during acute crisis: stabilise first and use a safety plan. For self-harm or suicidal behaviour, follow local risk protocols and your service's safety planning process. Chain analysis is not case formulation: it covers one dated episode, while formulation explains the wider pattern across episodes. For clients with trauma histories keep the chain to the target episode and slow down if recalling a link raises distress. Adaptations for ADHD, autistic and other neurodivergent clients are practice suggestions rather than evidence-derived. The optional values check is an ACT-informed addition by this site and is not part of the standard DBT worksheet. Evidence for DBT as a programme is strongest for borderline personality disorder and self-directed violence. No trials of chain analysis as a stand-alone technique were found, so the worksheet is rated practice-based. The wording was drafted with AI assistance.
References
- Rizvi, S. L., & Ritschel, L. A. (2014). Mastering the art of chain analysis in dialectical behavior therapy. Cognitive and Behavioral Practice, 21(3), 335-349. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cbpra.2013.09.002
- Linehan, M. M. (2015). DBT skills training handouts and worksheets (2nd ed.). Guilford Press. (General Worksheet 2, Chain Analysis of Problem Behavior.)
- Linehan, M. M. (2015). DBT skills training manual (2nd ed.). Guilford Press.
- Linehan, M. M. (1993). Cognitive-behavioral treatment of borderline personality disorder. Guilford Press.
- Kliem, S., Kroger, C., & Kosfelder, J. (2010). Dialectical behavior therapy for borderline personality disorder: A meta-analysis using mixed-effects modeling. Journal of Consulting and Clinical Psychology, 78(6), 936-951. https://doi.org/10.1037/a0021015
- DeCou, C. R., Comtois, K. A., & Landes, S. J. (2019). Dialectical behavior therapy is effective for the treatment of suicidal behavior: A meta-analysis. Behavior Therapy, 50(1), 60-72. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.beth.2018.03.009
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DBT Core Mindfulness
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