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Printed on 4/21/2026
For informational purposes only. This is not medical advice.
K10 is a brief global distress screening questionnaire widely used in primary care, public health, and epidemiologic settings to estimate anxiety/depression-related distress burden.
Formula: K10 total = sum of 10 items scored 1-5 each (range 10-50).
The K10 was developed by Kessler and colleagues as part of U.S. National Health Interview Survey mental health screening work and has been broadly validated for population-level non-specific psychological distress stratification. Australian and international implementations commonly interpret K10 in four bands (10-15, 16-21, 22-29, 30-50), while emphasizing that K10 is screening-only and not diagnostic.
Higher K10 totals indicate greater non-specific psychological distress and support deeper diagnostic follow-up.
Use in primary care or behavioral-health triage when a concise global distress index is needed.
K10 is non-specific and does not distinguish anxiety, depression, trauma, or substance-related causes without additional evaluation.
Disclaimer: This tool is for educational and informational purposes only. It is not a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always consult a qualified healthcare provider with questions about your health.
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