This calculator is for general information and education. It is not medical advice and does not replace the judgment of a doctor, nurse or pharmacist who knows the full clinical picture.
Measuring psychological distress
The Kessler Psychological Distress Scale (K10) was developed by Ronald Kessler and colleagues in the 1990s for the US National Health Interview Survey. Its ten questions ask how often, over the past 30 days, you felt tired for no reason, nervous, hopeless, restless, depressed, that everything was an effort or worthless. It is now used in health surveys and primary care around the world as a quick measure of anxiety and depressive symptoms.
How it is scored
Each question has five answers:
- None of the time: 1
- A little of the time: 2
- Some of the time: 3
- Most of the time: 4
- All of the time: 5
The total ranges from 10 to 50. The calculator also shows two subtotals: four questions about nervousness and restlessness, related to anxiety, and six about tiredness, hopelessness, sadness and worthlessness, related to depression.
Interpreting the score
A widely used interpretation is:
- 10 to 15: low distress
- 16 to 21: moderate distress
- 22 to 29: high distress
- 30 to 50: very high distress
People with high or very high scores are more likely to have an anxiety or depressive disorder and may benefit from an assessment by a professional.
Example
Someone who felt tired, nervous, restless and that everything was an effort a little of the time, and never felt the other symptoms, scores 14, in the low range.
Limits and support
The K10 measures distress, not a specific diagnosis, and it reflects only the past month. Stress after a bereavement, illness or job loss can raise the score temporarily. If your score is high, or you are worried about how you feel, talk to your doctor or a mental health professional. If you are in crisis or thinking about suicide, call or text 988, the Suicide and Crisis Lifeline, or call 911 in an emergency.