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DBT-AF CHAIN ANALYSIS1
INSTRUCTIONS
IF you binge or purge: complete a chain analysis on the binge/purge episode. (At least
one chain analysis must be completed for the week that a binge/purge occurs).
PROBLEM BEHAVIOR BOX: What is the major problem behavior that I am
analyzing?
1. Describe the specific problem behavior - e.g. binge eating, purging, mindless eating,
hunger/fullness violations, missing therapy, or other targeted behaviors.
2. Note the time and location of the problem behavior.
TRIGGER/PROMPTING EVENT BOX: What prompting event in the
environment triggered the problem behavior?
1. Describe the specific prompting event in the environment that started the chain
reaction, even if it doesn't seem that the event "caused" the problem behavior.
2. What happened first or started the problem behavior?
LINKS IN CHAIN:
1. Imagine that your problem behavior is chained to the prompting event.
2. Write out all the links in the chain between the prompting event and the problem
behavior. USE a separate piece of paper if more space is needed.
3. Describe the thought, feeling, action, sensation, event, or hunger or fullness level that
followed the prompting event.
4. For each link in the chain, ask is there another link that went with it. Was there another
thought, feeling, action sensation, event or appetite signal that occurred? Describe these
additional links.
8. Label each type of link (A=Action, B=Body Sensation, C=Cognition, E=Event,
F=Feelings, H=Hunger/Fullness Level)
SOLUTION ANALYSIS:
1. Identify skillful links in the chain by placing “” in the circles where they occur.
2. Identify at least one “key dysfunctional link” in the chain by placing an “!” in the
circle.
3. Draw an arrow to the dysfunctional link and indicate a more adaptive skill you could
use next time to replace the dysfunctional link.
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Adapted from Group Emotion Regulation Skills Training for Binge Eating Disorder by Christy F. Telch,
Ph.D