Stress & Wellbeing · 3 min · 10 questions
K10: Kessler Psychological Distress Scale
Ten questions about psychological distress over the past four weeks. About 3 minutes.
Medical disclaimer: this is a validated screening questionnaire, not a diagnostic test. Only a qualified health professional can diagnose a condition. Your answers are processed in your browser and are never sent or stored.
In the past 4 weeks, about how often did you feel…
K10 result
Answer all 10 questions for a complete result. Current partial score shown.
Your responses suggest severe psychological distress, consistent with a likely significant anxiety or depressive disorder.
Recommended next steps
- Seek a clinical evaluation promptly.
- Active treatment is generally recommended at this level.
Answer the remaining questions to enable the report:
- K10:
Screening result only, not a diagnosis. Share it with a doctor or therapist.
K10 scoring guide
| Score | Interpretation | Suggested action |
|---|---|---|
| 10–19 | Likely well | No action typically indicated. |
| 20–24 | Mild distress | Monitor your symptoms over the coming weeks. |
| 25–29 | Moderate distress | Arrange an assessment with a doctor or mental health professional. |
| 30–50 | Severe distress | Seek a clinical evaluation promptly. |
Clinical background
What it measures
The K10 measures non-specific psychological distress — symptoms of anxiety and depression — over the past four weeks. It is used in national health surveys worldwide and in Australian general practice as a routine outcome measure.
How it is scored
Items are scored 1–5 and summed to 10–50. Australian scoring bands are 10–19 likely well, 20–24 likely mild disorder, 25–29 likely moderate disorder and 30–50 likely severe disorder (Andrews & Slade, 2001).
Reference: Kessler RC, Andrews G, Colpe LJ, et al. Short screening scales to monitor population prevalences and trends in non-specific psychological distress. Psychol Med. 2002;32(6):959–976. Public domain.