🎉 We've launched!

Welcome to a whole new world of streamlined practice management

🎉 We've launched!

Welcome to a whole new world of streamlined practice management

🎉 We've launched!

Welcome to a whole new world of streamlined practice management

Measures Guide

Kessler Psychological Distress Scale (K10)

Understanding Psychological Distress: Exploring the nuances of the K10 Self-Report Measure

Understanding Psychological Distress: Exploring the nuances of the K10 Self-Report Measure

Understanding Psychological Distress: Exploring the nuances of the K10 Self-Report Measure

By Maggie Bowman

Psychology Research Assistant

Published

Published

4 Feb 2023

4 Feb 2023

TL;DR: Summary

Available on Bravely Connect

The K10 is a self-report measure used to assess symptoms of non-specific psychological distress associated with severe mental illness. It consists of 10 questions which ask clients about how frequently they have experienced symptoms of distress in the past month. Total scores are calculated via the summation of each item’s score. Potential total scores range from 10 to 50 with higher scores indicating higher levels of psychological distress. Limitations for the K10 include its nonspecificity and questionable cross-cultural applicability in clinical samples. However, the K10’s brevity and simplicity makes it a useful measure for tracking clients’ perceptions of psychological distress—just make sure to do so alongside more thorough clinical interviewing.


Highlights

📏 Lengths: 10 questions (2–3 minutes), but there is a 6 question version

📋 Administration: Self-administered or administered via interview

🎯 Uses: For monitoring non-specific psychological distress, but may be especially useful for anxiety and depression (see “K10 Factor structure”)

⚠️ Important Caveats: Not used for diagnosis

✅ Available in Bravely Connect? Yes

🌏 Culturally Applicable? Possibly, but recommended to be used with clinical interviews

💬 Translations? 19 translations of the K10 available on the Harvard National Comorbidity Survey website


The K10 Question type and length

The client is presented with 10 questions asking how often they have experienced different symptoms of non-specific psychological distress over the past 30 days.

Each question has the same selection of answers:

  • None of the time

  • A little of the time

  • Some of the time

  • Most of the time

  • All of the time

For the full list of questions check out the measures on Bravely Connect, or follow the following link to the original unautomated version: K10


What does the K10 measure

The K10 was created to measure non-specific psychological distress among respondents during large-scale population surveys with the goal of identifying cases of serious mental illness. It asks clients how often they experience feelings common to cases of serious mental illness such as tiredness, restlessness, depression, and worthlessness. Higher scores indicate higher levels of psychological distress.


K10 Factor structure

The K10 is intended to be a unidimensional measure of non-specific psychological distress with the single dimension representing traits that are common to many cases of serious mental illness. Studies of the K10 in general populations reinforce the unidimensional factor structure. However, research of the K10 in clinical samples with diagnosed mental health conditions have elucidated a potential two-factor structure underlying the scales. In these clinical samples, the K10 appears to target two specific types of psychological stress: depression and anxiety (Sunderland et al., 2012, p. 257).


The history and theory behind the K10

Research suggests that up to one-fifth of the general population has a diagnosable mental health condition at any given point in time (Kessler et al., 2002, p. 960). With limited governmental resources available to provide care for a large number of individuals with mental health concerns, an instrument was needed to identify people with clinically significant psychological distress. The Kessler Psychological Distress Scale was the created by Ronald C. Kessler and Daniel K. Mroczek in collaboration with the US National Center for Health Statistics in effort to identify cases of severe non-specific psychological distress during large-scale population surveys. Since its creation, the K10 has been used in nationwide health surveys in the US, Canada, and Australia. It has also been utilized by the World Health Organization's World Mental Health Initiative.


K10 Scoring Interpretation

K10 scoring is straightfoward via the summation of item scores. The K10 is scored using a 5-point Likert scale ranging from 1 (none of the time) to 5 (all of the time). Potential total scores range from 10 to 50 with higher scores indicating higher levels of psychological distress. Although K10 scores are not applicable for diagnosing specific mental health conditions, they can be used to track a client’s sense of general psychological distress over the course of treatment.


Who developed the measures, licensing and how to obtain the K10

The K10 was developed by Ronald C. Kessler and Daniel K. Mroczek in collaboration with the US National Center for Health Statistics. Items were adapted from preexisting psychometric measures and selected based on clarity and ability to identify individuals with clinically significant psychological distress.

There is no formal licensure or permission required for use of the K10; however, the creators ask that if you use this measure, you use the following citation and include copyright information for the World Health Organization:

Kessler, R. C., Barker, P. R., Colpe, L. J., Epstein, J. F., Gfroerer, J. C., Hiripi, E., Howes, M. J, Normand, S-L. T., Manderscheid, R. W., Walters, E. E., Zaslavsky, A. M. (2003). Screening for serious mental illness in the general population. Archives of General Psychiatry, 60(2), 184-189.

Copyright © World Health Organization 2003

The K10 is available on Bravely Connect as part of our automated measures. See the K10 on Bravely Connect →

There are currently 19 translations of the K10. If you find a version you’d like adding to Bravely Connect then just let us know here.


Limitations, biases and when you should/shouldn’t use the K10

The brevity of the K10 measure is both a strength and a limitation. The scale is exceptionally quick and easy to administer with a mere 10 questions and straightforward scoring method. However, because of how short and general the K10 is, it is not to be used for diagnosis. Instead, the K10 should be used in conjunction with disorder-specific measures and clinical interviews for discerning a diagnosis.

In addition, although the K10 has been validated in many of its other languages and shows strong internal consistency in studies from a variety of other countries including Argentina, Canada, France, Japan, Mexico, and South Africa (Silva et al., 2021, p. 92), some research indicates that this consistency may be lacking in clinical samples. Stolk et al. recommend in their 2014 study that practitioners working with culturally diverse communities take high K10 scores seriously, but ultimately recommend also following up to any K10 results with a culturally sensitive clinical interview.


As always, if you’ve found a measure you would like adding to Bravely Connect as an automated measure, just drop us a measure request here.

TL;DR: Summary

Available on Bravely Connect

The K10 is a self-report measure used to assess symptoms of non-specific psychological distress associated with severe mental illness. It consists of 10 questions which ask clients about how frequently they have experienced symptoms of distress in the past month. Total scores are calculated via the summation of each item’s score. Potential total scores range from 10 to 50 with higher scores indicating higher levels of psychological distress. Limitations for the K10 include its nonspecificity and questionable cross-cultural applicability in clinical samples. However, the K10’s brevity and simplicity makes it a useful measure for tracking clients’ perceptions of psychological distress—just make sure to do so alongside more thorough clinical interviewing.


Highlights

📏 Lengths: 10 questions (2–3 minutes), but there is a 6 question version

📋 Administration: Self-administered or administered via interview

🎯 Uses: For monitoring non-specific psychological distress, but may be especially useful for anxiety and depression (see “K10 Factor structure”)

⚠️ Important Caveats: Not used for diagnosis

✅ Available in Bravely Connect? Yes

🌏 Culturally Applicable? Possibly, but recommended to be used with clinical interviews

💬 Translations? 19 translations of the K10 available on the Harvard National Comorbidity Survey website


The K10 Question type and length

The client is presented with 10 questions asking how often they have experienced different symptoms of non-specific psychological distress over the past 30 days.

Each question has the same selection of answers:

  • None of the time

  • A little of the time

  • Some of the time

  • Most of the time

  • All of the time

For the full list of questions check out the measures on Bravely Connect, or follow the following link to the original unautomated version: K10


What does the K10 measure

The K10 was created to measure non-specific psychological distress among respondents during large-scale population surveys with the goal of identifying cases of serious mental illness. It asks clients how often they experience feelings common to cases of serious mental illness such as tiredness, restlessness, depression, and worthlessness. Higher scores indicate higher levels of psychological distress.


K10 Factor structure

The K10 is intended to be a unidimensional measure of non-specific psychological distress with the single dimension representing traits that are common to many cases of serious mental illness. Studies of the K10 in general populations reinforce the unidimensional factor structure. However, research of the K10 in clinical samples with diagnosed mental health conditions have elucidated a potential two-factor structure underlying the scales. In these clinical samples, the K10 appears to target two specific types of psychological stress: depression and anxiety (Sunderland et al., 2012, p. 257).


The history and theory behind the K10

Research suggests that up to one-fifth of the general population has a diagnosable mental health condition at any given point in time (Kessler et al., 2002, p. 960). With limited governmental resources available to provide care for a large number of individuals with mental health concerns, an instrument was needed to identify people with clinically significant psychological distress. The Kessler Psychological Distress Scale was the created by Ronald C. Kessler and Daniel K. Mroczek in collaboration with the US National Center for Health Statistics in effort to identify cases of severe non-specific psychological distress during large-scale population surveys. Since its creation, the K10 has been used in nationwide health surveys in the US, Canada, and Australia. It has also been utilized by the World Health Organization's World Mental Health Initiative.


K10 Scoring Interpretation

K10 scoring is straightfoward via the summation of item scores. The K10 is scored using a 5-point Likert scale ranging from 1 (none of the time) to 5 (all of the time). Potential total scores range from 10 to 50 with higher scores indicating higher levels of psychological distress. Although K10 scores are not applicable for diagnosing specific mental health conditions, they can be used to track a client’s sense of general psychological distress over the course of treatment.


Who developed the measures, licensing and how to obtain the K10

The K10 was developed by Ronald C. Kessler and Daniel K. Mroczek in collaboration with the US National Center for Health Statistics. Items were adapted from preexisting psychometric measures and selected based on clarity and ability to identify individuals with clinically significant psychological distress.

There is no formal licensure or permission required for use of the K10; however, the creators ask that if you use this measure, you use the following citation and include copyright information for the World Health Organization:

Kessler, R. C., Barker, P. R., Colpe, L. J., Epstein, J. F., Gfroerer, J. C., Hiripi, E., Howes, M. J, Normand, S-L. T., Manderscheid, R. W., Walters, E. E., Zaslavsky, A. M. (2003). Screening for serious mental illness in the general population. Archives of General Psychiatry, 60(2), 184-189.

Copyright © World Health Organization 2003

The K10 is available on Bravely Connect as part of our automated measures. See the K10 on Bravely Connect →

There are currently 19 translations of the K10. If you find a version you’d like adding to Bravely Connect then just let us know here.


Limitations, biases and when you should/shouldn’t use the K10

The brevity of the K10 measure is both a strength and a limitation. The scale is exceptionally quick and easy to administer with a mere 10 questions and straightforward scoring method. However, because of how short and general the K10 is, it is not to be used for diagnosis. Instead, the K10 should be used in conjunction with disorder-specific measures and clinical interviews for discerning a diagnosis.

In addition, although the K10 has been validated in many of its other languages and shows strong internal consistency in studies from a variety of other countries including Argentina, Canada, France, Japan, Mexico, and South Africa (Silva et al., 2021, p. 92), some research indicates that this consistency may be lacking in clinical samples. Stolk et al. recommend in their 2014 study that practitioners working with culturally diverse communities take high K10 scores seriously, but ultimately recommend also following up to any K10 results with a culturally sensitive clinical interview.


As always, if you’ve found a measure you would like adding to Bravely Connect as an automated measure, just drop us a measure request here.

Transform your therapy practice with Bravely Connect

Embrace the future of therapy with Bravely Connect. Say goodbye to the hassle of admin, and hello to better client engagement and therapeutic alliance.

With seamless management of scheduling, records, and outcomes, you're ready to elevate your practice. Discover the Bravely Connect difference and start a new era of streamlined practice management!

Transform your therapy practice with Bravely Connect

Embrace the future of therapy with Bravely Connect. Say goodbye to the hassle of admin, and hello to better client engagement and therapeutic alliance.

With seamless management of scheduling, records, and outcomes, you're ready to elevate your practice. Discover the Bravely Connect difference and start a new era of streamlined practice management!

Transform your therapy practice with Bravely Connect

Embrace the future of therapy with Bravely Connect. Say goodbye to the hassle of admin, and hello to better client engagement and therapeutic alliance.

With seamless management of scheduling, records, and outcomes, you're ready to elevate your practice. Discover the Bravely Connect difference and start a new era of streamlined practice management!

author

Bravely

Tech for therapists

Behind Bravely is a team of passionate and determined researchers, psychologists, designers and developers — who are, above all, human beings who know what it’s like to struggle with their mental health.

bravely.io · linkedin · instagram

Insights flown
directly to your inbox

Stay in the loop with articles from fellow practitioners, how-to guides and news from Bravely

Insights flown
directly to your inbox

Stay in the loop with articles from fellow practitioners, how-to guides and news from Bravely

Insights flown
directly to your inbox

Stay in the loop with articles from fellow practitioners, how-to guides and news from Bravely

Keep reading

Keep reading

Keep reading

General

General

Gender disparities in outcome measures

Gender disparities in outcome measures

27 Apr 2024

General

General

Why Measurement Based Care?

Why Measurement Based Care?

5 Apr 2024

PASS measure, a perinatal anxiety screening scale for mental health practitioners working wiht new mothers
PASS measure, a perinatal anxiety screening scale for mental health practitioners working wiht new mothers
PASS measure, a perinatal anxiety screening scale for mental health practitioners working wiht new mothers
PASS measure, a perinatal anxiety screening scale for mental health practitioners working wiht new mothers

Measures Guide

Measures Guide

Perinatal Anxiety Screening Scale (PASS)

Perinatal Anxiety Screening Scale (PASS)

12 Mar 2024

Measures Guide

Measures Guide

Mastering the OLBI: Understanding the Oldenburg Burnout Inventory

Mastering the OLBI: Understanding the Oldenburg Burnout Inventory

25 Nov 2023

Measures Guide

Measures Guide

Alcohol Use Disorders Identification Test (AUDIT-C)

Alcohol Use Disorders Identification Test (AUDIT-C)

21 Nov 2023

Bravely Connect

Bravely Connect

Bravely Connect launches today!

Bravely Connect launches today!

20 Sept 2023

Bravely Connect

Bravely Connect

Supercharging therapeutic alliances; How tech can boost the most valuable tool for therapy

Supercharging therapeutic alliances; How tech can boost the most valuable tool for therapy

10 Aug 2023

Measures Guide

Measures Guide

Work and Social Adjustment Scale (WSAS)

Work and Social Adjustment Scale (WSAS)

14 Jun 2023

Measures Guide

Measures Guide

The Oldenburg Burnout Inventory (OLBI)

The Oldenburg Burnout Inventory (OLBI)

13 May 2023

Community

Community

Dr. Carol Lee on tech, inclusivity, and the importance of accessible research

Dr. Carol Lee on tech, inclusivity, and the importance of accessible research

8 May 2023

Measures Guide

Measures Guide

Perceived Stress Scale (PSS)

Perceived Stress Scale (PSS)

1 Mar 2023

Measures Guide

Measures Guide

Patient Health Questionnaire(s) (PHQ-2, PHQ-4, PHQ-8)

Patient Health Questionnaire(s) (PHQ-2, PHQ-4, PHQ-8)

24 Feb 2023

Measures Guide

Measures Guide

Autism Spectrum Quotient (AQ)

Autism Spectrum Quotient (AQ)

18 Feb 2023

Measures Guide

Measures Guide

PTSD Checklist for DSM-5 (PCL-5)

PTSD Checklist for DSM-5 (PCL-5)

12 Feb 2023

Measures Guide

Measures Guide

Kessler Psychological Distress Scale (K10)

Kessler Psychological Distress Scale (K10)

4 Feb 2023

Measures Guide

Measures Guide

Short Form Health Survey (SF-36)

Short Form Health Survey (SF-36)

30 Jan 2023

Measures Guide

Measures Guide

Generalised Anxiety Disorder Assessment (GAD-7)

Generalised Anxiety Disorder Assessment (GAD-7)

14 Jan 2023

Measures Guide

Measures Guide

The Positive and Negative Affect Schedule (PANAS)

The Positive and Negative Affect Schedule (PANAS)

4 Dec 2022

Measures Guide

Measures Guide

Penn State Worry Questionnaire (PSWQ)

Penn State Worry Questionnaire (PSWQ)

14 Nov 2022

General

General

The HALT: A quick, self check-in

The HALT: A quick, self check-in

17 Dec 2021

Measures Guide

Measures Guide

Depression Anxiety and Stress Scale (DASS)

Depression Anxiety and Stress Scale (DASS)

4 Dec 2021

Stories

Stories

The trauma that surrounds us

The trauma that surrounds us

11 Aug 2021

Bravely Home Mobile App

Bravely Home Mobile App

What happens to my data on Bravely's mobile app? Our data privacy ethos

What happens to my data on Bravely's mobile app? Our data privacy ethos

8 Aug 2021

General

General

Remotely social: Improving workplace wellbeing

Remotely social: Improving workplace wellbeing

15 Jul 2021

General

General

Give your employees the mental health support they need

Give your employees the mental health support they need

21 Jun 2021

Stories

Stories

Mental illness is invisible and doesn’t discriminate. But some people do.

Mental illness is invisible and doesn’t discriminate. But some people do.

12 Feb 2020

Stories

Stories

Why Bravely ⁠— how my mental health struggles led me to start a new venture.

Why Bravely ⁠— how my mental health struggles led me to start a new venture.

20 Aug 2019

Streamlining your mental health practice with simplified scheduling, tracking, assignments, outcome scoring and client documentation. By elevating client engagement and motivation, you can create a collaborative experience you both will love.

Made with ❤️ from

© 2023 Bravely Tech Pte Ltd.

Streamlining your mental health practice with simplified scheduling, tracking, assignments, outcome scoring and client documentation. By elevating client engagement and motivation, you can create a collaborative experience you both will love.

Made with ❤️ from

© 2023 Bravely Tech Pte Ltd.

Streamlining your mental health practice with simplified scheduling, tracking, assignments, outcome scoring and client documentation. By elevating client engagement and motivation, you can create a collaborative experience you both will love.

Made with ❤️ from

© 2023 Bravely Tech Pte Ltd.