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Kessler Psychological Distress Scale (K10)

Kessler Psychological Distress Scale (K10) Test

Understand your level of stress, anxiety, and low mood over the past month in about 2 minutes. A fast 10 question screen that supports early support decisions and tracks change over time.

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Questions: 102 minutes

Hi! My name is Freudly, i am an AI therapist, I will give you an interpretation of the test after you complete it.

08:30

October 2, 2025

October 2, 2025
Material has been updated

October 2, 2025
Material has been published

29,609 views

2,238 completions

1,809 likes

Verified by Daniel Hall

Psychologist with 25 years of experience

Scale Explorer

How the Scales are Structured

example score

26/50

Psychological Distress (PD)

Measures the overall level of nonspecific psychological distress (stress, anxiety, and depressive feelings) experienced over the past four weeks.

Low distress

Moderate distress

High distress

10 – 19: Low distress | 20 – 29: Moderate distress | 30 – 50: High distress

A score of 26 falls in the Moderate distress range, suggesting noticeable psychological distress over the past month.

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DATA-BASED USER COHORTS

Who Usually Takes This Test?

Stressed and overwhelmed adults

41%OF USERS

People who feel persistently stressed, anxious, or low and want a quick snapshot of how intense it has been over the last month.

Therapy and counseling clients

34%OF USERS

People already seeing a psychologist or counselor who use it to track overall emotional distress and changes between sessions.

Clinic and program screening

25%OF USERS

Patients in primary care or workplace and community mental health programs who complete it as a brief first-line check to see if extra support is needed.

BASED ON AGGREGATED, ANONYMIZED DATA FROM TENS OF THOUSANDS OF FREUDLY USERS.

RESULTS YOU CAN ACTUALLY USE

Scale Results
— Explained Clearly

Your scores across each test scale are translated into plain, usable insights. You won’t just get numbers — you’ll learn how your results impact your daily life, emotional state, and overall well-being.

AI-Powered
Interpretation

You’ll receive a structured, clinically-grounded explanation. Our AI analyzes patterns and relationships between scales to provide a coherent interpretation, without exaggerated language.

Statistical
Comparison

See how your results compare to others. Anonymized platform data is used to create a percentile scale, which identifies whether your results are typical.

Practical
Recommendations

You’ll receive clear, actionable guidance tailored to your profile. These easy-to-implement suggestions focus on coping, self-regulation, and realistic next steps.

AI-Powered
Insights

Get insights on behavioral and thought patterns you might not notice on your own. By uncovering subtle connections between your responses, you’ll better understand what may be driving your current results.

Discuss with
an AI Therapist

Clarify, reflect, and explore your results right away. Talk through your experience, ask questions, and explore meanings in a calm, non-diagnostic dialogue.

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Used in 52+ countries

Benchmarking

See How You Compare

Once you complete the test, your results are compared with real-world data from people in your country.
Below is a preview of how scores are typically distributed across each scale.

Psychological Distress Scale (PDS)

Average

31.6

Normal range

25.4 — 37.8

min.

max.

Majority

This curve shows how scores are typically distributed.
Once you complete the test, your result will appear on the scale so you can see how you compare.

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CLEAR ANSWERS TO COMMON QUESTIONS

Frequently Asked Questions

What does this questionnaire measure?

It measures general psychological distress, including symptoms often linked with stress, anxiety, and depression. It reflects overall emotional strain rather than a specific disorder.

What time period should responses cover?

Responses should reflect how often each feeling occurred during the past four weeks. Select the option that best represents the typical frequency in that period.

How long does it take to complete?

Most respondents complete it in about two minutes. Completion time may vary based on reading speed.

How are items answered and scored?

Each item uses a frequency scale from “none of the time” to “all of the time.” Higher total scores indicate higher overall distress.

Do results provide a diagnosis or replace a clinical evaluation?

No, results indicate the level of nonspecific distress and are used for screening or monitoring change. Follow-up assessment may be needed when scores are elevated or concerns are present.

WHAT THE TEST MEASURES

About This Assessment

Kessler Psychological Distress Scale (K10) Test - Symptoms and Signs

stress level

This brief self-report measure screens for nonspecific psychological distress over the past 4 weeks. The Kessler Psychological Distress Scale (K10) asks respondents to rate how often they experienced common symptoms such as nervousness, hopelessness, or restlessness.

The instrument includes 10 items and typically takes about 2 minutes to complete. It is commonly used to support initial screening and to monitor change in overall distress over time, without making a specific psychiatric diagnosis.

Developed by Kessler, R., the Kessler Psychological Distress Scale (K10) is intended to help identify individuals who may benefit from further clinical assessment or supportive intervention.

Author: Kessler, R.

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