The DBT Program Fidelity Checklist (DBT PFC)

A Pragmatic Measure of Fidelity to DBT

The DBT Program Fidelity Checklist (DBT PFC; Harned & Schmidt, 2022) enables programs to evaluate their fidelity to DBT and identify potential areas for improvement. The DBT PFC:

  • Is derived from the DBT Program Fidelity Scale developed by the DBT-Linehan Board of Certification.

  • Assesses the critical elements of comprehensive DBT programs using a simple checklist format.

  • Provides clear, behavioral anchors to define what is below, meets, and exceeds fidelity for each element.

  • Is accompanied by a training manual that provides detailed information about how to rate each item.

Benefits of the DBT PFC

 

Efficient.

The DBT PFC is brief and easy to use. Providers report that it helped them to clearly identify what their DBT programs are doing well and how they could improve their fidelity.

Rigorous.

The DBT PFC was derived from a comprehensive measure of program fidelity, developed with feedback from DBT therapists and experts, and tested in routine practice.

Free.

The DBT PFC is publicly available and can be used free of charge. A detailed training manual is also freely available to help you learn how to use the measure.

Recommended Uses

 

Program Development

Use the DBT PFC to determine how to structure new programs to maximize fidelity.

Quality Improvement

Use the DBT PFC to evaluate existing programs and identify elements in need of improvement.

Research

Use the DBT PFC to measure program fidelity in DBT research.

 

Getting Started

Before using the DBT PFC, it is recommended that you read the free training manual available on this website. This manual is intended to increase your ability to generate accurate scores on the DBT PFC, but it is not guaranteed to do so. This training option is sufficient for anyone interested in using the DBT PFC for program development and quality improvement purposes. When using the DBT PFC, it is also recommended that you discuss the results with your team to identify strengths of your program as well as elements that may need to be changed to improve fidelity.

DBT PFC Citation:

Harned, M. S. & Schmidt, S. C. (2022). The Dialectical Behavior Therapy Program Fidelity Checklist (DBT PFC). https://www.dbtadherence.com/