4817.0.55.001 - Information Paper: Use of the Kessler Psychological Distress Scale in ABS Health Surveys, Australia, 2007-08  
ARCHIVED ISSUE Released at 11:30 AM (CANBERRA TIME) 04/04/2012   
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Contents >> Background >> K10 Version Comparison

K10 VERSION COMPARISON
There are two versions of the K10 used in ABS surveys. For the purposes of this paper, they will be referred to as the ‘1994 version’ and the ‘2001 version’. The 1997 SMHWB and all iterations of the NHS use the 1994 version of the K10, where the 2007 SMHWB uses the 2001 version.

The differences between the two versions are identified in Table A, and include the reference period (‘4 weeks’ as opposed to ‘30 days’), the use of the word ‘about’ in the follow-on questions and the use of the word ‘sad’ instead of ‘depressed’.

There is an additional follow-on question (Q8) in the 2001 version, so the 1994 version has the potential to skip two questions if the respondent answers ‘none of the time’ in selected questions, while the 2001 version has the potential to skip three questions. Follow-on questions are not asked if the respondent answers ‘none of the time’ in the preceding question.


Table A: 1994 and 2001 K10 version comparison

Q
K10 - 1994 version
- 2001, 2004-05 & 2007-08 NHS
- 1997 SMHWB
2001 K10 Q
- 2007 SMHWB
In the past 4 weeks: During the past 30 days:
1
about how often did you feel tired out for no good reason?
1
about how often did you feel tired out for no good reason?
2
about how often did you feel nervous?
2
about how often did you feel nervous?
3
[if not "none of the time"]
about how often did you feel so nervous that nothing could calm you down?
3
[if not "none of the time"]
how often did you feel so nervous that nothing could calm you down?
4
about how often did you feel hopeless?
4
about how often did you feel hopeless?
5
about how often did you feel restless or fidgety?
5
about how often did you feel restless or fidgety?
6
[if not "none of the time"]
about how often did you feel so restless you could not sit still?
6
[if not "none of the time"]
how often did you feel so restless that you could not sit still?
7
about how often did you feel depressed?
7
about how often did you feel depressed?
8
about how often did you feel that everything was an effort?
9
about how often did you feel that everything was an effort?
9

about how often did you feel so sad that nothing could cheer you up?
8
[if not "none of the time"]
how often did you feel so depressed nothing could cheer you up?
10
about how often did you feel worthless?
10
about how often did you feel worthless?


K10+
The K10+ includes the 10 question psychological distress scale and sets of additional targeted questions. The set of additional questions developed by the Harvard School of Medicine include the frequency of reported feelings, functioning, consultations with healthcare professionals and contribution of physical health problems (Harvard School of Medicine, 2005).

The 2007 SMHWB includes additional questions that focus on aggressive behaviour, and the Australian Mental Health Outcomes and Classification Network (AMHOCN) use additional questions that focus on disability.



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