What is the K10?
The Kessler Psychological Distress Scale (K10) is a 10-item questionnaire that measures non-specific psychological distress over the past 30 days.
Developed by Kessler and colleagues, the K10 is widely used in population health surveys and clinical screening to gauge general mental health status. It provides a broad measure of distress that spans anxiety and depressive symptoms.
How It Works
Answer 10 questions about how often you've felt certain emotional states over the past 30 days.
Your responses are summed to produce a distress score ranging from 10 to 50.
Receive a distress classification from Low to Very High, indicating your overall psychological wellbeing.
What You'll Learn
- Your overall level of psychological distress
- How your distress level compares to population norms
- Whether your symptoms suggest further clinical assessment
- A snapshot of your general mental health over the past month
At a Glance
The assessments on this platform are internationally validated instruments; however, they may not have been specifically validated for all cultural backgrounds, including Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples.
Results should be interpreted with cultural context in mind. If you have concerns about cultural fit or relevance, please speak with a culturally informed mental health professional.
Ready to get started?
Take the K10 to measure your psychological distress over the past month.
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