Kessler Psychological Distress Scale (K10) Assessment

The Kessler Psychological Distress Scale, or K10, uses ten symptom-related questions to gauge how often you felt anxious, depressed, or restless during the preceding four weeks. By summing your answers, the scale produces a single number that reflects overall mental distress rather than any diagnosis, guiding self-reflection and decisions about professional evaluation.

This interactive tool presents one question at a time, saves your response locally, and shows real-time progress. When you answer all items, a gauge visual highlights your total score’s position on a color-coded range. Badges and explanatory text translate raw numbers into clear severity bands, supporting quick comprehension without overwhelming detail.

Use this brief check when you want a fast snapshot of your current emotional strain, perhaps before deciding on self-care steps or booking a counselling session. Do not base urgent health choices solely on an online score. This tool offers a screening only; it is not a clinical diagnostic instrument.

Technical Details:

Under the hood the page runs entirely on the client side, combining a reactive interface with browser storage to capture answers and compute the sum in milliseconds. A lightweight charting layer renders the gauge solely in the canvas element, while Bootstrap utilities maintain responsive visuals across desktop and mobile displays.

Client-side Processing

The questionnaire logic, scoring, and result rendering occur wholly in your browser, eliminating server calls and enhancing privacy.

Adaptive Progress Bar

A live progress bar recalculates completion percentage after every answer, encouraging continued engagement without page reloads.

Scrollable Question Navigator

The questions list highlights the active item and auto-scrolls into view, letting you jump back to earlier responses effortlessly.

Dynamic Gauge Visual

Upon completion, a circular gauge plots your score on a 10–50 scale, instantly revealing position and severity through color-coded arcs.

Severity Badge Mapping

Four discrete color schemes label Low, Mild, Moderate, and Severe bands, matching the gauge palette for quick cross-reference.

Calculations & Scoring:

Your total equals the sum of selected numeric values (1–5) across ten questions. Possible scores range from 10 (lowest distress) to 50 (highest distress).

Data privacy: Every calculation happens locally; no answers or scores are transmitted or stored externally.

Step-by-Step Guide:

Follow these clear steps to complete the assessment and view your results.

1. Click Begin Assessment to start.
2. Read the displayed question and select an answer such as “None of the time”.
3. Watch the progress bar advance and use the side list to revisit earlier questions if needed.
4. Continue until all ten items show a .
5. Review the gauge, numeric score, and severity badge under Your Result.

FAQ:

Find quick answers to common questions about using and interpreting the tool.

What does my score mean?

The score indicates the frequency of distress symptoms. Higher numbers suggest greater distress and may warrant professional advice.

Is my data stored?

No. The tool works entirely in your browser. Answers vanish when you reload or close the page.

How often should I retake it?

Use weekly or monthly intervals to track trends. Avoid multiple runs in one day because results will likely duplicate.

Can I share my results?

You may capture a screenshot or note the score manually. There is no built-in share function to preserve privacy.

Does it diagnose disorders?

No. It merely screens for general distress. Only qualified professionals can make diagnostic decisions.

Troubleshooting:

Resolve common issues quickly with these pointers.

• Blank gauge after finishing
  Refresh the page; ensure your browser allows canvas rendering.
• Stuck on first question
  Disable browser extensions that block scripts.
• No answer options visible
  Zoom out or switch to portrait mode on mobile.
• Progress bar not updating
  Clear cache and reload to reset local state.
• Score seems incorrect
  Confirm you answered every question; unchecked items score zero.

Advanced Tips:

Enhance your experience with expert guidance.

• Bookmark the page to perform periodic self-checks without searching again.
• Record scores over time in a personal journal to spot gradual changes.
• Combine the result with lifestyle metrics, such as sleep hours, for deeper insights.
• Use a private browser window if sharing a device to keep answers confidential.
• Consult a professional when scores consistently reach the Moderate band or rise sharply.

Glossary:

Key terms used throughout the tool.

Anxiety

Feelings of worry, nervousness, or unease.

Distress

Negative emotional state caused by stressors.

Gauge

Circular visual that displays a value on a scale.

Severity Band

Color-coded category indicating distress level.

Self-assessment

A test you complete without external scoring.