What term is used in the DSM-IV to refer to what was formerly called neurosis?

The term used in the DSM-IV to refer to what was formerly classified as neurosis is "anxiety disorder." In the context of mental health, neurosis encompassed a range of conditions characterized by anxiety, obsessive thoughts, and compulsive behaviors. The DSM-IV recognized that these symptoms fit more appropriately within the framework of anxiety disorders, which include various diagnoses such as generalized anxiety disorder, panic disorder, and phobias. This shift allowed for a more precise categorization of mental health conditions based on symptoms rather than vague terms like neurosis, leading to better treatment approaches and understanding of such disorders.

The other options do not describe the former classification of neurosis specifically. Psychotic disorders are distinct in that they involve a disconnection from reality, personality disorders encompass enduring patterns of behavior and inner experience that deviate markedly from the expectations of the individual's culture, and obsessive-compulsive disorder, while related to anxiety, is a specific condition that involves both obsessions and compulsions rather than being a broader classification.