Which disorder features persistent thoughts that cause significant anxiety?

The correct choice is rooted in the distinctive nature of Obsessive-Compulsive or Related Disorders. These conditions are characterized by the presence of obsessions, which are persistent, intrusive thoughts that cause significant anxiety or distress. Individuals with this disorder often experience overwhelming and unwanted thoughts that they struggle to manage, leading them to engage in compulsive behaviors in an attempt to alleviate the anxiety triggered by these obsessions.

Unlike Substance-Induced Anxiety Disorder, which is specifically linked to the effects of substance use, or Generalized Anxiety Disorder, which involves excessive worry across various domains without a specific focus, Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder is marked by its unique emphasis on intrusive thoughts combined with compulsive actions. Other Specified Anxiety Disorder covers anxiety symptoms that cause significant distress or impairment but do not meet the full criteria for other anxiety disorders, making it broader and less specific than the features of Obsessive-Compulsive Disorders.

Thus, the defining characteristic of persistent thoughts causing significant anxiety aligns closely with Obsessive-Compulsive or Related Disorders.