Which measure would assess psychological distress?

Which measure would assess psychological distress?

• A. K-5
• B. DASS
• C. K-10
• D. SDQ

Answer: (C)

Psychological distress is best captured with a brief, general screen that focuses on non-specific emotional strain rather than diagnosing a particular disorder. The K-10 is exactly that: a 10-item self-report measure that asks about common distress symptoms (like feeling nervous, hopeless, or worthless) experienced in the past month. It yields a total distress score, making it a quick, practical tool to flag individuals who may need further evaluation for anxiety or depression, without getting into specific symptom patterns. Compared to other options, the DASS offers more detailed subscales for Depression, Anxiety, and Stress, which is useful for deeper assessment but not as concise a screen for distress alone. The SDQ targets behavioral and emotional problems in children, not adults, and the K-5 is an even briefer screen that may sacrifice some nuance. Therefore, the K-10 is the most appropriate choice for assessing psychological distress quickly and generally.

Psychological distress is best captured with a brief, general screen that focuses on non-specific emotional strain rather than diagnosing a particular disorder. The K-10 is exactly that: a 10-item self-report measure that asks about common distress symptoms (like feeling nervous, hopeless, or worthless) experienced in the past month. It yields a total distress score, making it a quick, practical tool to flag individuals who may need further evaluation for anxiety or depression, without getting into specific symptom patterns.

Compared to other options, the DASS offers more detailed subscales for Depression, Anxiety, and Stress, which is useful for deeper assessment but not as concise a screen for distress alone. The SDQ targets behavioral and emotional problems in children, not adults, and the K-5 is an even briefer screen that may sacrifice some nuance. Therefore, the K-10 is the most appropriate choice for assessing psychological distress quickly and generally.