FIGURE 1.1 • Determining a Psychological Disorder: Three Criteria The severity of a person’s distress, impairment in daily life, and/or risk of harm determine whether he or she is said to have a psychological disorder. All three elements don’t need to be present at a significant level: When one or two elements are present to a significant degree, this may indicate a psychological disorder, provided that the person’s behavior and experience are not normal for the context and culture in which they arise.