K10: Kessler Psychological Distress Scale
10-item measure of non-specific psychological distress. Scores 10–50 across four bands: likely well, mild, moderate, severe. Mandatory screening tool for Australian Medicare mental health plans.
The K10 is a 10-item measure of non-specific psychological distress widely used in population surveys and clinical screening. Scores 10–50 across four severity bands. Standard screening tool in Australia, Canada, and the UK.
What is the Kessler K10?
The K10 (Kessler Psychological Distress Scale) was developed by Ronald C. Kessler and colleagues at Harvard University in 1992. 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 population-level screening and triage.
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). Total scores range from 10 to 50. The K10 is the mandatory screening tool for Australian Medicare mental health care plans and is widely used in Canada, the UK, and New Zealand.
A shorter K6 (6-item) version is available for settings requiring even more brevity. The K10 is in the public domain and free for clinical and research use.
Rate how often you felt each way in the past 4 weeks.
Educational reference only. Cannot diagnose or replace clinical evaluation.
K10 Severity Bands
Australian Department of Health cutoffs (most widely cited internationally).
Population-Level Screening in HiBoop
K10 alongside PHQ-9 and GAD-7, automated triage scoring to identify patients who need care most.
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
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 in 1992. 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. Scores of 10–15 suggest the person is likely well, 16–21 indicate mild distress, 22–29 reflect moderate distress with likely benefit from professional support, and 30–50 indicate severe distress with a high probability of a serious mental disorder requiring immediate clinical review.
How is the K10 used in population health?
The K10 is a mandatory screening tool for Australian Medicare mental health care plans and is widely used in national mental health surveys in Australia, Canada, the United Kingdom, and New Zealand. It is the preferred tool for triage in stepped care models because its four severity bands map directly to recommended care pathways, from self-management at the low end to specialist treatment at the high end.
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 typically takes 3 to 5 minutes to complete. Its brevity makes it practical for routine screening in busy clinical settings and for repeated administration across visits.
Does HiBoop support the K10?
Yes. HiBoop supports K10 administration with automated scoring and severity classification. The K10 can be assigned to patients and tracked alongside other measures such as the PHQ-9 and GAD-7 for a complete view of psychological wellbeing.
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