K10 — Kessler Psychological Distress Scale
The K10 is a simple 10-item questionnaire that measures psychological distress over the past 30 days. It was developed by Kessler et al. (2002) and is used in the Australian Bureau of Statistics National Health Survey and by GPs for Mental Health Treatment Plan assessments.
About this tool
Created by
Kessler et al., 2002
Norms
Andrews & Slade, 2001 (Australian)
Used by
ABS National Health Survey; GPs (MHTP)
Measures
General psychological distress
Scoring
10–50
Diagnostic?
No — screening only
Score interpretation — what your results mean
| Score | Severity |
|---|---|
| 10–19 | Low |
| 20–24 | Moderate |
| 25–29 | High |
| 30–50 | Very high |
Source: Kessler et al. (2002), Psychological Medicine; Andrews & Slade (2001), Australian and New Zealand Journal of Public Health.
Important: This is a screening tool, not a diagnosis. If your results concern you, please speak with a GP. In a crisis, call Lifeline 13 11 14.
For each question, select the option that best describes how you've been feeling during the past 30 days.