The K10 (Kessler Psychological Distress Scale) does not measure a specific disorder but general psychological distress – that diffuse blend of nervousness, hopelessness, restlessness, and exhaustion that does not sort neatly into "anxiety" or "depression". Ten questions, about the past four weeks.
Precisely because it measures so broadly, the K10 is used in national health surveys to estimate the mental health of entire populations. For you, it is a good starting point when you sense something is off but do not yet have a name for it.
What this test measures: General psychological distress over the past four weeks
Source: Kessler et al. (2002); Andrews & Slade (2001). Eingesetzt u. a. in nationalen Gesundheitsbefragungen.
How to read your result
The K10 uses a five-point scale and produces a score between 10 and 50. The common ranges are: 10–15 low distress, 16–21 moderate, 22–29 high, 30–50 very high. Higher means more mental pressure over the past four weeks.
Unlike the PHQ-9 and GAD-7, the K10 does not aim to suggest a specific diagnosis. It is deliberately unspecific – a thermometer for mental pressure, not a test for a single illness.
Why the trend is what matters
A high K10 score in a single week may simply mean the last four weeks were hard. It gets interesting when you measure repeatedly: does it fall once the demanding phase is over? Does it stay up despite calmer circumstances? Does it rise in certain months every year?
InnerPulse makes exactly that visible. You repeat the K10 at your own rhythm, see the curve, and place it next to your influence factors – sleep, work, season, people. That is how you learn whether your distress is tied to outside circumstances or has taken on a life of its own.
When distress is high
A score of 30 or more reflects very high distress. That is no reason to panic, but a clear signal to reach for support – whether a doctor, a counselling service, or people you trust. To look closer, the PHQ-9 depression test and the GAD-7 anxiety test help.
Completely anonymous
The test runs entirely in your browser. No storage, no transfer, no account, no tracking. Close the page and everything is gone. If you want to follow your distress over weeks and months, you can do that in InnerPulse – there too, your data stays entirely on your device.
FAQ
What exactly does the K10 measure?
General psychological distress over the past four weeks – a broad blend of nervousness, hopelessness, restlessness, sadness, and exhaustion. It is deliberately unspecific and does not target a single diagnosis.
Why does the score range from 10 to 50 instead of 0?
Each of the ten questions is scored from 1 (none of the time) to 5 (all of the time). So the lowest possible total is 10 and the highest is 50. That is the standard scoring of the Kessler scale.
Are my answers stored?
No. The test runs entirely in your browser, with no account, tracking, or server transfer. Close the page and your answers are gone.
Is the K10 better than the PHQ-9 or GAD-7?
Not better, broader. The K10 shows whether elevated distress is present at all. The PHQ-9 and GAD-7 then look more specifically at depression and anxiety.
With data, not just a gut feeling
Want to track your questionnaires over time and compare results? Then download InnerPulse. Everything stays private, no data leaves your device, and you discover what lifts your mood or drags it down.
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