Which term applies to unspecified cases of anxiety disorders causing significant distress?

The term that applies to unspecified cases of anxiety disorders causing significant distress is "Unspecified Anxiety Disorder." This classification is used in situations where the individual experiences anxiety symptoms that cause significant distress or impairment in functioning but does not meet the full criteria for any specific anxiety disorder outlined in the DSM-5-TR.

"Unspecified Anxiety Disorder" allows clinicians to communicate that the individual’s symptoms are recognized as serious and warrant treatment, but the specific nature of the disorder remains unclear. This might occur when the details of the anxiety symptoms do not fit neatly into the criteria established for other disorders or when there is insufficient information to make a more specific diagnosis.

In contrast, "Other Specified Anxiety Disorder" would be utilized in cases where the clinician chooses to specify the reason why the symptom criteria for a specific anxiety disorder have not been met, offering a bit more clarity or detail about the symptom presentation. Generalized Anxiety Disorder and Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder are specific diagnoses with defined criteria that do not loosely connect to situations of unspecified anxiety. Thus, "Unspecified Anxiety Disorder" serves as an appropriate classification for cases that clearly indicate anxiety-related distress but lack a specific diagnostic label.