Can anxiety and panic disorders lead to psychosis?

No.: Psychosis is not seen in anxiety disorders or panic disorders. Overdose or interactions of bubropion or maoi to treat atypical depression may sometimes cause psychosis. A bout of severe depression or mania may trigger some psychotic symptoms. Some panic or anxiety may be experienced by patients with mood disorders or psychotic disorders, but are not the causes of psychosis.

Yes: Severe anxiety if left untreated, can have severe consequences. For example, some people who suffer from recurring panic attacks avoid any situation that they fear may trigger an attack. Such avoidance behavior may create problems by conflicting with job requirements, family obligations or other basic activities of daily living, and cause delusions of reality.

Not usually: Anxiety disorders are classified differently then thought disorders (otherwise known as psychotic disorders). Any one person can have both types of illness but it has not been shown that they are directly connected or causative of one another. One of the hallmarks of panic attacks is the fear that one is going crazy or losing their mind. This is very different from being psychotic.