K6
Kessler Psychological Distress Scale (6-item)
The six-item short form of the Kessler distress scale.
6
2 min
adult
0–24
About the K6
The Kessler-6 (K6) is the six-item short form of the K10, measuring non-specific psychological distress over the past 30 days. It is widely used in national health surveys because it is brief while retaining strong screening performance for serious mental illness.
Each item is rated 0–4 (or 1–5 depending on the version in use), and higher totals indicate greater distress.
K6 questions
- 1
...nervous?
- 2
...hopeless?
- 3
...restless or fidgety?
- 4
...so depressed that nothing could cheer you up?
- 5
...that everything was an effort?
- 6
...worthless?
Items reproduced from a documented, freely usable source. Item wording is preserved exactly as published.
Scoring & interpretation
| Range | Band | Interpretation |
|---|---|---|
| 0–12 | Typical | Within typical distress range. |
| 13–18 | Moderate distress | Moderate mental distress — clinical review indicated. |
| 19–24 | Serious distress | Serious mental illness likely; prompt clinical assessment recommended. |
Higher scores indicate greater symptom severity.
Clinical applications
- Large-scale population and health-survey screening
- Brief distress screening where the K10 is too long
Frequently asked questions
How many items does the K6 have?
The K6 has 6 items and takes about 2 minutes to complete.
How is the K6 scored?
Item responses are summed for a total score from 0 to 24, where higher scores indicate greater severity. Totals fall into the interpretive bands shown above.
Is the K6 free to use?
Yes — the K6 is in the public domain and free to use, reproduce, and translate.
Who is the K6 for?
The K6 is designed for adult and is used by clinicians, researchers, and integrated-care teams.
Source & references
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