K10: Kessler Psychological Distress Scale
The K10 (Kessler Psychological Distress Scale) is a 10-item self-report questionnaire that measures non-specific psychological distress over the past four weeks. Total scores range from 10 to 50, grouped in Australian health surveys into low (10–15), moderate (16–21), high (22–29) and very high (30–50) distress.
K10 Score Interpreter
Scores 16–21.
10 items, each scored 1 (none of the time) to 5 (all of the time) for the past 4 weeks. Total 10–50; higher scores indicate greater psychological distress.
| Total score | Interpretation |
|---|---|
| 30+ | Very high distressScores 30–50. Clinical assessment warranted. |
| 22–29 | High distressScores 22–29. |
| 16–21 | Moderate distressScores 16–21. |
| 10–15 | Low distressScores 10–15. |
Australian Bureau of Statistics. Information Paper: Use of the Kessler Psychological Distress Scale in ABS Health Surveys, Australia, 2007-08 (cat. 4817.0.55.001). Four levels of psychological distress, drawing on Andrews and Slade (2001): 10–15 low, 16–21 moderate, 22–29 high, 30–50 very high. Survey groupings, not a diagnosis.
For reference only — not an assessment, diagnosis, or medical advice. This page provides scoring reference material; interpretation and clinical decisions rest with a qualified clinician.
The K10 is a 10-item measure of non-specific psychological distress widely used in population surveys and clinical screening. Scores 10–50, grouped by the Australian Bureau of Statistics into four distress levels.
What the K10 measures
The K10 (Kessler Psychological Distress Scale) was developed by Ronald C. Kessler and colleagues for the redesigned US National Health Interview Survey (Kessler et al., 2002). It measures the level of non-specific psychological distress, the global burden of anxiety, depression, and emotional exhaustion, rather than any specific disorder. This makes it particularly useful for broad screening and triage.
The K10 is used in Australian Bureau of Statistics health surveys and in clinical triage. A shorter K6 (6-item) version is embedded within it for settings requiring even more brevity. Check the copyright holder's terms before clinical or commercial use.
How to administer the K10
Each of the 10 items asks how often in the past 4 weeks a person felt a symptom of distress, rated on a 5-point scale (1 = None of the time, 5 = All of the time). Its brevity makes it practical for routine screening and for repeated administration across visits.
Rate how often you felt each way in the past 4 weeks.
Educational reference only. Cannot diagnose or replace clinical evaluation.
K10 scoring and interpretation
Item scores are summed for a total from 10 to 50; higher scores indicate greater distress.
The Australian Bureau of Statistics groups K10 totals into four levels of psychological distress, drawing on Andrews and Slade (2001):
| Total score | Level of psychological distress |
|---|---|
| 10–15 | Low |
| 16–21 | Moderate |
| 22–29 | High |
| 30–50 | Very high |
These are survey groupings for describing distress, not diagnostic cut-offs.
Psychometric properties
Kessler and colleagues (2002) built the K10 and K6 from item response theory models and validated them against the Structured Clinical Interview for DSM-IV (SCID). Both scales showed consistent psychometric properties across major sociodemographic subsamples and strongly discriminated community cases from non-cases of DSM-IV disorders, with areas under the ROC curve of 0.87 to 0.88 for disorders with Global Assessment of Functioning (GAF) scores of 0 to 70, and 0.95 to 0.96 for disorders with GAF scores of 0 to 50.
Limitations
- Screening, not diagnosis. The K10 measures non-specific distress; it does not identify which disorder is present. A high score calls for clinical assessment, not a diagnosis.
- Self-report. Scores depend on the respondent's insight, recall over four weeks, and willingness to disclose.
- Not disorder-specific. For tracking a known condition, disorder-specific measures such as the PHQ-9 or GAD-7 are better suited.
Measuring distress in HiBoop
HiBoop does not offer the K10; this page is reference material. For psychological distress, HiBoop offers the DASS-21, PHQ-9 and GAD-7, with automated scoring and tracking over time.
HiBoop does not offer this scale. This page is reference material.This library is an academic and clinical reference. A scale described here is not necessarily offered in HiBoop; each page says whether it is.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the K10?
The Kessler Psychological Distress Scale (K10) is a 10-item self-report measure of non-specific psychological distress developed by Ronald Kessler and colleagues for the redesigned US National Health Interview Survey (Kessler et al., 2002). It measures the global burden of anxiety, depression, and emotional exhaustion over the past four weeks rather than assessing a specific disorder. It is widely used in population surveys and clinical triage.
How are K10 scores interpreted?
K10 scores range from 10 to 50. The Australian Bureau of Statistics groups scores into four levels of psychological distress: low (10–15), moderate (16–21), high (22–29) and very high (30–50), drawing on Andrews and Slade (2001). These are survey groupings, not diagnoses; a high score calls for clinical assessment.
How is the K10 used in population health?
The K10 and its 6-item short form (K6) were built to monitor population prevalences and trends in non-specific psychological distress (Kessler et al., 2002). Australian Bureau of Statistics health surveys report K10 results in four distress levels (low, moderate, high, very high), and the scale is also used for clinical triage.
How does the K10 differ from the PHQ-9 and GAD-7?
The PHQ-9 and GAD-7 measure depression and generalized anxiety specifically, while the K10 measures non-specific psychological distress that spans both conditions. This makes the K10 better for initial triage when the clinical presentation is unclear, whereas the PHQ-9 and GAD-7 are better for tracking severity of a known condition. The K10 also has a longer reference period of four weeks compared to two weeks for the PHQ-9 and GAD-7.
How long does the K10 take to complete?
The K10 has 10 short items with one shared response scale, so it is quick to complete. Its brevity makes it practical for routine screening in busy clinical settings and for repeated administration across visits.
Is this scale offered in the HiBoop app?
No. HiBoop does not offer the K10; this page is reference material. For psychological distress, HiBoop offers the DASS-21, PHQ-9 and GAD-7, with automated scoring and tracking over time.
Bill this assessment
In the US, the K10: Kessler Psychological Distress Scale is usually billed under these CPT codes. Payer rules vary.
Measurement-based care in practice
For clinicians
HiBoop does not offer this scale. For the scales it does offer, HiBoop automates delivery, scoring and longitudinal tracking across your patient panel.
For individuals
This page is a clinical reference, not a diagnostic tool. If you have concerns about your own symptoms, bring this information to a qualified mental health professional.
References
- 1.Kessler RC, Andrews G, Colpe LJ, Hiripi E, Mroczek DK, Normand SL, Walters EE, Zaslavsky AM. Short screening scales to monitor population prevalences and trends in non-specific psychological distress. Psychol Med. 2002;32(6):959-976.View source
- 2.Andrews G, Slade T. Interpreting scores on the Kessler Psychological Distress Scale (K10). Aust N Z J Public Health. 2001;25(6):494-497.View source
- 3.Australian Bureau of Statistics. Information Paper: Use of the Kessler Psychological Distress Scale in ABS Health Surveys, Australia, 2007-08. Cat. no. 4817.0.55.001.View source
Last reviewed: Jun 2, 2026
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