Description

The Kessler Psychological Distress Scale (K10) is a brief psychometric tool designed to assess psychological distress in population surveys and clinical settings. It consists of 10 questions that measure levels of anxiety and depression and is widely used to identify individuals who may be experiencing mental health problems.

Objective

The main objectives of the Kessler Psychological Distress Scale (K10) are:
Assessment of Psychological Distress: Provide a brief but effective measurement of psychological distress, including symptoms of anxiety and depression.
Identification of Individuals with Mental Health Issues: Aid in detecting individuals who may require further assessment and therapeutic intervention.
Monitoring Treatment Effectiveness: Used to track changes in psychological distress during the course of treatment.

Analysis

The analysis of the K10 includes:
Structure and Content:
The scale consists of 10 questions evaluating how often respondents have experienced specific feelings and thoughts over the past four weeks.
Questions focus on symptoms such as nervousness, fatigue, worry, inability to relax, and depression.
Rating Scale:
Responses are given on a 5-point Likert scale, ranging from “none of the time” to “all of the time,” reflecting the frequency of symptoms.
Statistical Analysis:
Statistical methods are used to analyze the reliability and validity of the scale, as well as to evaluate levels of psychological distress within the target population.

Calibration

Calibration of the K10 includes:
Total Score: The total score ranges from 10 to 50, with higher scores indicating greater psychological distress.
Categorization:
10–19: Low psychological distress
20–24: Moderate psychological distress
25–29: High psychological distress
30–50: Very high psychological distress
The total score can be used to identify individuals who may need further evaluation by mental health professionals.

References

Kessler, R. C., Andrews, G., Colpe, L. J., Hiripi, E., Mroczek, D. K., Normand, S. L., … & Zaslavsky, A. M. (2002). Short Screening Scales to Monitor Population Prevalences and Trends in Non-Specific Psychological Distress. Psychological Medicine, 32(6), 959–976.
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.
Furukawa, T. A., Kessler, R. C., Slade, T., & Andrews, G. (2003). The Performance of the K6 and K10 Screening Scales for Psychological Distress in the Australian National Survey of Mental Health and Well-Being. Psychological Medicine, 33(2), 357–362.