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.
For professional reference, research, and education only. Not for diagnosis or medical advice.
K10 Score Interpreter
Enter a total score to see its range.
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.
The K10 (Kessler Psychological Distress Scale) is a 10-item measure of non-specific psychological distress used in population surveys and clinical screening [1]. Totals run from 10 to 50, grouped by the Australian Bureau of Statistics into four distress levels [3].
What does the K10 measure?
The K10 was developed by Ronald Kessler and colleagues for the redesigned US National Health Interview Survey [1].
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 do you give 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.
How do you score and interpret the K10?
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 [3], drawing on Australian normative data [2]:
| 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
The developers built the K10 and K6 from item response theory models and validated them against the Structured Clinical Interview for DSM-IV (SCID) [1]:
- Consistency. Both scales showed consistent psychometric properties across major sociodemographic subsamples [1].
- Moderate to severe disorders. Areas under the ROC curve were 0.87 to 0.88 for disorders with Global Assessment of Functioning (GAF) scores of 0 to 70 [1].
- Severe disorders. Areas under the ROC curve were 0.95 to 0.96 for disorders with GAF scores of 0 to 50 [1].
Australian normative data relate K10 scores in predictable ways to symptoms, disability, service use and diagnosis [2].
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.
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.
Billing
In the US, the K10: Kessler Psychological Distress Scale is usually billed under these CPT codes. Payer rules vary.
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
- 1.
Related
FAQ
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. 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 Australian normative data. 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. 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.
We help connect the dots, sooner
Learn moreHiBoop 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.