Kessler psychological distress scale (K10)
Name: Date:
For all questions, please circle the answer most commonly related to you. Questions 3 and 6 automatically
receive a score of one if the previous question was ‘none of the time’.
In the past four weeks: None A little Some Most All of
of the of the of the of the the
time time time time time
1. About how often did you feel 1 2 3 4 5
tired out for no good reason?
2. About how often did you feel 1 2 3 4 5
nervous?
3. About how often did you 1 2 3 4 5
feel so nervous that nothing
could calm you down?
4. About how often did you feel 1 2 3 4 5
hopeless?
5. About how often did you feel 1 2 3 4 5
restless or fidgety?
6. About how often did you feel 1 2 3 4 5
so restless you could not sit
still?
7. About how often did you feel 1 2 3 4 5
depressed?
8. About how often did you feel 1 2 3 4 5
that everything is an effort?
9. About how often did you feel 1 2 3 4 5
so sad that nothing could
cheer you up?
10. About how often did you feel 1 2 3 4 5
worthless?
Total:
Test: Kessler (1996)
Normative data: Australian Bureau of Statistics. (1997)
K10 scoring and interpretation
The Kessler psychological distress scale (K10) (Kessler 1996) is a widely used, simple self-report
measure of psychological distress which can be used to identify those in need of further assessment for
anxiety and depression. This measure was designed for use in the general population; however, it may
also serve as a useful clinical tool. The K10 comprises 10 questions that are answered using a five-point
scale (where 5 = all of the time, and 1 = none of the time). For all questions, the client circles the answer
truest for them in the past four weeks. Scores are then summed with the maximum score of 50
indicating severe distress, and the minimum score of 10 indicating no distress. A guide to interpreting
K10 scores is provided in Table 1.
A number of studies have been conducted to test the reliability and validity of the K10, and its brief
version, the K6. Good reliability and validity have been found when these measures have been used with
individuals with AOD use disorders (Arnaud, et al., 2010; Hides, et al., 2007; Rush, et al., 2013).
Table 1: Severity of psychological distress according to K10 score
K10 score Level of psychological distress
10-15 Low
16-21 Moderate
22-29 High
30-50 Very high
Source: Andrews & Slade (2001).
Extract from Marel C, Siedlecka E, Fisher A, Gournay K, Deady M, Baker A, Kay-Lambkin F, Teesson M, Baillie A, Mills KL.
(2022). Guidelines on the management of co-occurring alcohol and other drug and mental health conditions in alcohol
and other drug treatment settings (3rd edition). Sydney, Australia: Matilda Centre for Research in Mental Health and
Substance Use, The University of Sydney.
For more information, visit www.comorbidityguidelines.org.au
References
Andrews & Slade T. (2001). Interpreting scores on the Kessler Psychological Distress Scale (K10). Australian
and New Zealand Journal of Psychiatry, 25, 494-497.
Arnaud, B., Malet, L., Teissedre, F., Izaute, M., Moustafa, F., Geneste, J., … Brousse, G. (2010). Validity
study of Kessler’s psychological distress scales conducted among patients admitted to French
emergency department for alcohol consumption–related disorders. Alcoholism: Clinical and
Experimental Research, 34(7), 1235–1245.
Australian Bureau of Statistics. (1997). National Survey of Mental Health and Well-being. Canberra,
Australia.
Hides, L., Lubman, D. I., Devlin, H., Cotton, S., Aitken, C., Gibbie, T., & Hellard, M. (2007). Reliability and
validity of the Kessler 10 and Patient Health Questionnaire among injecting drug users. Australian &
New Zealand Journal of Psychiatry, 41(2), 166–168
Kessler, R. C. (1996). Kessler’s 10 Psychological Distress Scale. Boston, MA, US: Harvard Medical School.
Rush, B., Castel, S., Brands, B., Toneatto, T., & Veldhuizen, S. (2013). Validation and comparison of
diagnostic accuracy of four screening tools for mental disorders in people seeking treatment for
substance use disorders. Journal of Substance Abuse Treatment, 44(4), 375–383.
Extract from Marel C, Siedlecka E, Fisher A, Gournay K, Deady M, Baker A, Kay-Lambkin F, Teesson M, Baillie A, Mills KL.
(2022). Guidelines on the management of co-occurring alcohol and other drug and mental health conditions in alcohol
and other drug treatment settings (3rd edition). Sydney, Australia: Matilda Centre for Research in Mental Health and
Substance Use, The University of Sydney.
For more information, visit www.comorbidityguidelines.org.au
