The K10 can be administered either as a self-report questionnaire or through an interview. Respondents are asked to reflect on their emotional state over the past 30 days and rate each item accordingly. The total score ranges from 10 to 50, with higher scores indicating greater levels of distress. Scores are typically categorized into four levels: Low (10-15), Moderate (16-21), High (22-29), and Very High (30-50) psychological distress.