The Temporal Stability of the Kessler Psychological Distress Scale

Shires, A; merson, F; mahoney, A; Newby, J

The Temporal Stability of the Kessler Psychological Distress Scale

Shires, A

merson, F mahoney, A Newby, J

Permalink

Publisher:: Taylor and Francis
Publication Type:: Journal Article
Citation:: Australian Psychologist, 2021, 56, (1), pp. 38-45
Issue Date:: 2021-03

Closed Access

	Filename	Description	Size
	The temporal stability of the Kessler Psychological Distress Scale.pdf		635.52 kB	Adobe PDF	View/Open

Copyright Clearance Process

Recently Added
In Progress
Closed Access

This item is closed access and not available.

Full metadata record

Field	Value	Language
dc.contributor.author	Shires, A https://orcid.org/0000-0001-8153-1126
dc.contributor.author	merson, F
dc.contributor.author	mahoney, A
dc.contributor.author	Newby, J
dc.date.accessioned	2021-11-16T02:20:26Z
dc.date.available	2021-11-16T02:20:26Z
dc.date.issued	2021-03
dc.identifier.citation	Australian Psychologist, 2021, 56, (1), pp. 38-45
dc.identifier.issn	0005-0067
dc.identifier.issn	1742-9544
dc.identifier.uri	http://hdl.handle.net/10453/151602
dc.description.abstract	Objective: The ten-item Kessler Psychological Distress Scale (K10) was designed as a screening tool to identify mental illness in epidemiological surveys. In recent years, it has also been employed in treatment studies and clinical settings to measure changes in psychological distress. However, no study to date has validated this extended use of the K10 by examining its temporal stability. This was the aim of the current study. Method: The K10 was administered on two occasions to a treatment-seeking sample (n = 289) and a non-treatment seeking sample (n = 129). To investigate the K10’s temporal stability over a range of clinically relevant time periods, test-retest reliability estimates were computed for multiple time intervals from 1–2 weeks to 8–13 weeks in the treatment-seeking sample. Results: For the testing interval of 1–2 weeks, the K10 demonstrated sound test-retest reliability in the treatment-seeking sample (ICC = .89; r = .80) and in the non-treatment-seeking sample (ICC = .86; r = .76). Comparable estimates were observed for the longer testing intervals in the treatment-seeking sample (ICCs = .84–.90; rs = .72–.81). Conclusion: This study provides evidence demonstrating the temporal stability of the K10, and supports its continued implementation as an outcome measure in mental health research and treatment. Key Points What is already known about this topic: The Kessler-10 (K10) is widely used measure of psychological distress. It is a well-validated screener for mental illness used in epidemiological surveys. Although the K10 was not designed for assessing psychotherapy outcomes, it is now routinely used in this way. What this topic adds: To support the use of the K10 in psychotherapy evaluation, its test re-test reliability needs to be examined. The K10 demonstrated temporal stability over a variety of clinically relevant time intervals in treatment and non-treatment seeking samples. Our data support the use of the K10 as a means of assessing changes in psychological distress over time.
dc.language	English
dc.publisher	Taylor and Francis
dc.relation.ispartof	Australian Psychologist
dc.relation.isbasedon	10.1080/00050067.2021.1893603
dc.rights	info:eu-repo/semantics/closedAccess
dc.subject	1701 Psychology, 1702 Cognitive Sciences
dc.subject.classification	Clinical Psychology
dc.title	The Temporal Stability of the Kessler Psychological Distress Scale
dc.type	Journal Article
utslib.citation.volume	56
utslib.for	1701 Psychology
utslib.for	1702 Cognitive Sciences
pubs.organisational-group	/University of Technology Sydney
pubs.organisational-group	/University of Technology Sydney/Faculty of Health
pubs.organisational-group	/University of Technology Sydney/Faculty of Health/Graduate School of Health
pubs.organisational-group	/University of Technology Sydney/Faculty of Health/Graduate School of Health/GSH.Clinical Psychology
utslib.copyright.status	closed_access	*
pubs.consider-herdc	true
dc.date.updated	2021-11-16T02:20:25Z
pubs.issue	1
pubs.publication-status	Published
pubs.volume	56
utslib.citation.issue	1

Abstract:

Objective: The ten-item Kessler Psychological Distress Scale (K10) was designed as a screening tool to identify mental illness in epidemiological surveys. In recent years, it has also been employed in treatment studies and clinical settings to measure changes in psychological distress. However, no study to date has validated this extended use of the K10 by examining its temporal stability. This was the aim of the current study. Method: The K10 was administered on two occasions to a treatment-seeking sample (n = 289) and a non-treatment seeking sample (n = 129). To investigate the K10’s temporal stability over a range of clinically relevant time periods, test-retest reliability estimates were computed for multiple time intervals from 1–2 weeks to 8–13 weeks in the treatment-seeking sample. Results: For the testing interval of 1–2 weeks, the K10 demonstrated sound test-retest reliability in the treatment-seeking sample (ICC = .89; r = .80) and in the non-treatment-seeking sample (ICC = .86; r = .76). Comparable estimates were observed for the longer testing intervals in the treatment-seeking sample (ICCs = .84–.90; rs = .72–.81). Conclusion: This study provides evidence demonstrating the temporal stability of the K10, and supports its continued implementation as an outcome measure in mental health research and treatment. Key Points What is already known about this topic: The Kessler-10 (K10) is widely used measure of psychological distress. It is a well-validated screener for mental illness used in epidemiological surveys. Although the K10 was not designed for assessing psychotherapy outcomes, it is now routinely used in this way. What this topic adds: To support the use of the K10 in psychotherapy evaluation, its test re-test reliability needs to be examined. The K10 demonstrated temporal stability over a variety of clinically relevant time intervals in treatment and non-treatment seeking samples. Our data support the use of the K10 as a means of assessing changes in psychological distress over time.

Please use this identifier to cite or link to this item:

http://hdl.handle.net/10453/151602