Kessler Psychological Distress Scale (K10)
The Kessler Psychological Distress Scale (K10) is a brief questionnaire used to measure psychological distress over the past four weeks. Complete the interactive K10 below to receive your score and psychological distress range instantly.
Over the past 4 weeks, how often have you felt the following? There are no right or wrong answers — just answer honestly.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the Kessler Psychological Distress Scale (K10)?
The Kessler Psychological Distress Scale, commonly called the K10, is a brief 10-question questionnaire designed to measure psychological distress. It asks about experiences such as nervousness, hopelessness, restlessness, low mood and feeling that everything is an effort over the previous four weeks.
What does the K10 measure?
The K10 provides an indication of a person's overall level of psychological distress. It is designed as a broad measure rather than an assessment of one particular mental health condition.
A higher score generally indicates greater psychological distress during the previous four weeks.
How is the K10 scored?
Each of the 10 questions is scored from 1 to 5 based on how frequently you experienced the feeling described. The responses are added together, producing a total score between 10 and 50.
Higher scores represent higher levels of reported psychological distress.
Is the K10 a diagnostic test?
No. The K10 is a screening and outcome-measurement tool, not a diagnostic test. A score cannot determine whether you have depression, an anxiety disorder or another mental health condition.
Diagnosis involves a more comprehensive assessment that considers your experiences, circumstances, history and functioning.
What time period should I think about when answering?
Answer the questions based on how you have felt during the past four weeks.
Try to choose the response that best reflects your experience across that entire period rather than focusing only on how you feel today.
Can I use the K10 to track changes over time?
Yes. Because the K10 asks the same questions about the previous four weeks, repeating it periodically can provide one way of observing changes in psychological distress over time.
Individual scores can fluctuate for many reasons, however, so the score is best considered alongside what has been happening in your life rather than interpreted in isolation.
What should I do if I receive a high K10 score?
A high score doesn't provide a diagnosis, but it may be worth paying attention to—particularly if you're experiencing significant distress or difficulties in your everyday life.
Consider discussing what you're experiencing with a qualified healthcare or mental health professional. The questionnaire can be a useful starting point for that conversation.
Who developed the K10?
The K10 was developed by researchers Ronald Kessler and Daniel Mroczek as a brief measure of nonspecific psychological distress. It has subsequently been used in population health surveys, research and healthcare settings internationally.
