General Worksheet 2 (General Handouts 7, 7a) (p.

1 of 4)

Chain Analysis of Problem Behavior

Due Date:         Name:                   Date:

VULNERABILITY PROBLEM BEHAVIOR

PROMPTING EVENT
CONSEQUENCES
LINKS

1. What exactly is the major problem behavior that I am analyzing?

2. What prompting event in the environment started me on the chain to my problem

behavior? Include what happened right before the urge or thought came into my
mind.
Day prompting event occurred:                             

3. Describe what things in myself and in my environment made me vulnerable.

Day the events making me vulnerable started:                      

(continued on next page)

From DBT Skills Training Handouts and Worksheets, Second Edition by Marsha M. Linehan. Copyright 2015 by Marsha M. Linehan. Permis-
sion to photocopy this worksheet is granted to purchasers of this book for personal use only (see copyright page for details). Purchasers may
download a larger version of this worksheet from www.guilford.com/dbt-­worksheets.

31
General Worksheet 2 (p. 2 of 4)

Links in the chain of events: Behaviors (Actions, Body sensations,

Cognitions/Thoughts, Feelings) and Events (in the environment)
Possible Types of Links

A. Actions
B. Body sensations
C. Cognitions/thoughts
E. Events
F. Feelings      

4. List the chain of events (specific 6. List new, more skillful behaviors to
behaviors and environmental events that replace ineffective behaviors. Use the
actually did happen). Use the ABC-EF list ABC-EF list.
above.
1st. 1st.

2nd. 2nd.

3rd. 3rd.

4th. 4th.

5th. 5th.

6th. 6th.

7th. 7th.

8th. 8th.

9th. 9th.

(continued on next page)

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General Worksheet 2 (p. 3 of 4)

Links in the chain of events: Behaviors (Actions, Body sensations,

Cognitions/Thoughts, Feelings) and Events (in the environment)
Possible Types of Links

A. Actions
B. Body sensations
C. Cognitions/thoughts
E. Events
F. Feelings      

4. List the chain of events (specific 6. List new, more skillful behaviors to
behaviors and environmental events that replace ineffective behaviors. Use the
actually did happen). Use the ABC-EF list ABC-EF list.
above.

10th. 10th.

11th. 11th.

12th. 12th.

13th. 13th.

14th. 14th.

15th. 15th.

16th. 16th.

17th. 17th.

(continued on next page)

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General Worksheet 2 (p. 4 of 4)

5. What exactly were the consequences in the environment?

And in myself?

What harm did my problem behavior cause?

7. Prevention plans:
Ways to reduce my vulnerability in the future:

Ways to prevent precipitating event from happening again:

8. Plans to repair, correct, and overcorrect the harm:

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 General Worksheet 2a (General Handouts 7, 7a) (p. 1 of 3)

Example: Chain Analysis of Problem Behavior

Due Date:         Name:                   Date:
Problem Behavior:

VULNERABILITY PROBLEM BEHAVIOR

PROMPTING EVENT
CONSEQUENCES
LINKS

1. What exactly is the major problem behavior that I am analyzing?

Drinking too much and driving drunk

2. What prompting event in the environment started me on the chain to my problem

behavior? Include what happened right before the urge or thought came into my
mind.
Day prompting event occurred:   Monday                          
My sister from out of town called me and said she was not going to come visit me the next
week like she had said she would, because her husband had an important business party
he wanted her to attend with him.

3. Describe what things in myself and in my environment made me vulnerable.

Day the events making me vulnerable started:   Sunday                   
My boyfriend said he had to take a business trip sometime in the next month.

(continued on next page)

From DBT Skills Training Handouts and Worksheets, Second Edition by Marsha M. Linehan. Copyright 2015 by Marsha M. Linehan. Permis-
sion to photocopy this worksheet is granted to purchasers of this book for personal use only (see copyright page for details). Purchasers may
download a larger version of this worksheet from www.guilford.com/dbt-­worksheets.

35
General Worksheet 2A  (p. 2 of 3)

Links in the chain of events: Behaviors (Actions, Body sensations,

Cognitions/Thoughts, Feelings) and Events (in the environment)
Possible Types of Links

A. Actions
B. Body sensations
C. Cognitions/thoughts
E. Events
F. Feelings      

4. List the chain of events (specific 6. List new, more skillful behaviors to
behaviors and environmental events that replace ineffective behaviors. Use the
actually did happen). Use the ABC-EF list ABC-EF list.
above.

1st. I felt hurt and started sobbing on the 1st. Listen to why my sister could not
phone with my sister and was angry with come.
her.
2nd. Remember that my sister and my
2nd. I thought, “I can’t stand it. No one boyfriend love me.
loves me.”
3rd. Check the facts; is my sister going to
3rd. I felt very ashamed once I hung up reject me over this?
from talking to my sister.
4th. Call my sister back and apologize for
4th. I thought “My life is useless; no one being angry (since I know she will validate
will ever be here for me.” how I feel).

5th. Tried watching TV, but nothing was on 5th. Download a movie, work on a puzzle,
I liked. or call a friend instead.

6th. I started feeling agitated and thought, 6th. Try my TIP skills to bring down arousal.
“I can’t stand this.”
7th. Walk down the street and have a
7th. I decided to drink a glass of wine to dinner out, because I won’t drink too much
feel better, but ended up drinking two whole in public.
bottles.
8th. Call my boyfriend and ask him to come
8th. Got in my car to drive to a late-night over for a while.
concert.
9th. Take a long bath, try TIP skills again;
9th. While I was bending down to pick up a Keep checking the facts; remember these
piece of paper, car swerved. I was stopped emotions will pass; call my therapist for help.
by a cop and taken in on a DUI.

(continued on next page)

36
General Worksheet 2A  (p. 3 of 3)

5. What exactly were the consequences in the environment?

Short-term: I had to spend the night in jail.
Long-term: My boyfriend has less trust in me; my sister is upset about it.

And in myself?
Short-term: I am ashamed and furious with myself.
Long-term: I will have to pay more for car insurance and may have trouble getting a job.

What harm did my problem behavior cause?

It hurt me by giving me a DUI record. My sister feels guilty because she upset me.

7. Prevention plans:
Ways to reduce my vulnerability in the future:
Make plans for how to cope whenever my boyfriend is out of town.

Ways to prevent precipitating event from happening again:

I can’t keep the precipitating event from happening, so I need to practice coping ahead and
have plans for how to manage when I am at home alone.

8. Plans to repair, correct, and overcorrect the harm:

Apologize to my sister and reassure her that she has a perfect right to change her plans.
Work with her to plan a new time for a visit. Ask if it would be easier for her if I came to visit
her.

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