Kessler Psychological Distress Scale (K6) Test
How the Scales are Structured
Who Usually Takes This Test?
See How You Compare
Below is a preview of how scores are typically distributed across each scale.
Once you complete the test, your result will appear on the scale so you can see how you compare.
Example Questions From the Test
- None of the time
- A little of the time
- Some of the time
- Most of the time
- All of the time
- Never
- Rarely
- Sometimes
- Often
- Always
- Never
- Rarely
- Sometimes
- Often
- Always
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Kessler Psychological Distress Scale (K6) Test - Symptoms and Signs
Psychological distress can be difficult to identify early, but it is important to assess efficiently to determine whether further evaluation may be indicated. The Kessler Psychological Distress Scale (K6) is a brief self-report screening measure of nonspecific psychological distress over the past 4 weeks.
The instrument consists of 6 items and typically takes about 2 minutes to complete. Respondents rate how often they experienced common distress-related symptoms (e.g., depressed mood, nervousness), providing an overall index of recent emotional strain.
The Kessler Psychological Distress Scale (K6) is commonly used in clinical and research settings to support initial triage and population screening; it does not establish a diagnosis but can help identify individuals who may benefit from additional assessment. The measure is attributed to Kessler, R.