K10
Kessler Psychological Distress Scale
In this guide
Ten-item non-specific psychological distress measure widely used in population mental-health screening.
The K10 is a 10-item measure of non-specific psychological distress — anxiety and depressive symptoms — over the past 30 days, developed by Ronald Kessler and colleagues (2002). It is widely used in population surveys and primary care.
When to use the K10
Use the K10 as a fast, non-specific distress screen at intake or in triage when you do not yet know whether depression, anxiety, or something else is primary. Ten items over the past four weeks sort clients into well, mild, moderate, or severe likely-disorder bands.
What the K10 measures
Frequency over the past 30 days of ten anxiety and depressive symptoms — nervousness, hopelessness, restlessness, sadness, effort, worthlessness, etc. Yields a single distress score.
Use the K10 when
- Triage and waitlist prioritization when diagnosis is still unknown
- Brief or single-session services needing one global severity number
- Population and program-level outcome monitoring
- Stepped-care allocation: deciding who needs low- vs high-intensity intervention
Why use the K10 instead of another measure
The K10 deliberately avoids diagnosis-specific content, which makes it a robust single indicator of general psychological distress and a good first filter before you invest time in disorder-specific measures. It is short, free, and heavily used in national health surveys, so the bands are well normed.
When not to use the K10
- You need to know which disorder is present — follow up with PHQ-9, GAD-7, or PCL-5
- You need to track a specific symptom target across sessions
- The presentation is trauma-driven; the K10 will flag distress but not explain it
Scoring and bands
K10 scores should be interpreted alongside the clinical interview, the client's context, and the measure's intended population. A cutoff suggests follow-up; it does not establish a diagnosis.
Cutoffs
Australia's GP system uses ≥22 as a Medicare-relevant cutoff for mental-health care plans; thresholds vary by setting. Strong correlate of any current disorder in population studies.
What K10 results mean — and what to do next
Likely to be well.
Next stepBrief support or self-directed resources; re-screen if circumstances change.
Likely mild disorder.
Next stepLow-intensity intervention — guided self-help, skills groups, brief therapy.
Likely moderate disorder.
Next stepStructured psychotherapy; administer disorder-specific measures to pick the target.
Likely severe disorder.
Next stepPrioritize on the waitlist, assess safety, and consider medication consult or higher-intensity care.
How often to re-administer
At intake and every 4–8 weeks, matching its four-week recall window.
What to pair it with
PHQ-9 and GAD-7 to identify the specific target once distress is confirmed.
How to talk about the score
K10 is broad — it doesn't tell you what's wrong, just that something is. Pair with disorder-specific measures (PHQ-9, GAD-7, PCL-5) for targeted treatment planning.
Limitations
- Non-specific — doesn't differentiate diagnoses
- Vulnerable to over-detection in medically ill populations
- Short window (30 days)
- Less sensitive to change than disorder-specific measures
Best used for
- Population screening
- Initial triage in stepped-care systems
- Quick general distress check
K10 scoring and score bands
Each item is scored 1–5, giving a total from 10 to 50. Commonly used bands (Andrews & Slade, 2001): 10–15 low distress, 16–21 moderate, 22–29 high, and 30–50 very high. Higher bands are associated with a greater likelihood of a current anxiety or depressive disorder.
K10 vs PHQ-9 and GAD-7
The K10 measures general distress rather than a specific disorder. When a score is high, follow up with disorder-specific measures such as the PHQ-9 and GAD-7, and always ask directly about safety.
Frequently asked questions about the K10
Should I use K10 or PHQ-9/GAD-7 at intake?
Use disorder-specific measures (PHQ-9, GAD-7, PCL-5) when you have any hypothesis about diagnosis. Use K10 for stepped-care triage or when you want a single general distress number.
Is the K6 (shorter version) okay?
Yes — the K6 is widely used and reasonably correlated with the K10. The K10 gives a slightly more nuanced score and is preferable when administration burden permits.
References
Scoring bands and cutoffs on this page come from these published sources. This guide is educational and does not replace clinical judgment.
- Kessler, R. C., Andrews, G., Colpe, L. J., et al. (2002). Short screening scales to monitor population prevalences and trends in non-specific psychological distress. Psychological Medicine, 32(6), 959–976.Supports: Original K10 development
- Andrews, G., & Slade, T. (2001). Interpreting scores on the Kessler Psychological Distress Scale (K10). Australian and New Zealand Journal of Public Health, 25(6), 494–497.Supports: Low / moderate / high / very high score bands