To all polygraphers on this board,

Regarding effective use of the polygraph, how do the following impact polygraph results? Please provide explanations and evidence... 

1. Hypertension 
2. Thyroid disease
3. Diabetes
4. Asthma
5. Menopause
6. The common cold
7. Schizophrenia
8. Major and mild depression
9. Alzheimer's disease
10. Bipolar disorder
11. Histrionic personality disorder
12. Psychopathic personality disorder
13. Low IQ
14. Average IQ
15. High IQ 

I would also ask that you refrain from personal attacks and treat this merely as an informational in nature. As for the antipolygraph folk, I would ask that you extend the same courtesy and let the answers speak for themselves. Once the polygraph folk have had a chance to answer, we can then engage in spirited but respectful debate...

One also doesn't have to know the answers to all these, only what you know about...

And again, I ask that all refrain from personal attacks, logical fallacies, and misdirections...

Thanks ahead of time,

-digithead

I agree, excellent question. I will be very interested to hear any replies and I have a thyroid disorder, anxiety, and severe allergies. 

I am scheduled to have a polygraph for a job next week and was given a paper that said if I had a cold or bad allergies to reschedule. Ummm, I have severe allergies all the time and suffer miserable from them so does that mean I never have to take the test? 

Digithead:

Didnt really want to take the time to reply but you seem like a decent sort of guy so Ill try to answer what I think you are asking.  I will not address every point becasue one answer will apply to several.   

Some people with the problems you name can or can not be tested.  A lot dpends on the pretest interview.  For instance, a person wiht a low IQ may not remember what he did yesterday but how low does the IQ have to go before one can not remember what he did.  I cant remember, imbecile moron is the lowest ? But you have to interview them and make a decsion. I probalby wouild not test a person wiht a very low IQ becaue they can be impressionable . 

Some of the illnesses you bame cam be tested but again depends on how they are physically and mentally at the time, i.e. a person wiht a common cold can not be tested if he is going to be sniffing all the time.
Alzheimer can not be tested. Bi polar can as well as depression patinets. 

Histionic disorder subject has a tendency to be a drama queen and embellish .  Again can test, but each individual is different and have to make assessment in interview. This also alies to psychopathic  subjects who are extremely manipulative and sometimes very evil.  Cant test schizos who are out of touch with reality. 

Most of the others you can test if they are and not in discomfort. BTW you forgot to name pregnat people which you can not test.

These are only my opinionsevery isssue.  SOme polygraphers may come here and disagree on certain issues.

digithead

retcopper's stock rose with me a while back when he told me that he would not test a subject that is on psychotropic medication. I think most polygraphers will tell you they can test around the conditions you listed. Their punitive egos control their thinking.

I don't agree with all of retcopper's posts but, at times, (humor) he does posess rational thinking. He has the right to defend his profession as best as he can as we have the right to defend ours. It's just that, at times, (humor again, retcopper) he has dificulties. One shouldn't be serious all the time. It wears on the grey matter. I can, also, take insults that are offered jokingly.

retcopper wrote on Sep 20^th, 2006 at 3:46pm:


How does an examiner determine if an individual is not in too much discomfort to be tested?

Also, is it a general rule among examiners not to test pregnant people?  If so, how far along would one need to be before they could not be tested?  Does an examiner require verification of the pregnancy?   

am convinced pre-existing medical conditions do affect polygraph tests. I took a pre-employment polygraph and failed. I have Hypertension, Diabetes, and sleep Apnea. These conditions are treated with daily medication and breathing machine which is used while I sleep. The medication for Hypertension and Diabetes does have an affect on blood pressure stability. Treatment for sleep Apnea has a drastic affect on rate of breathing. My breathing rate is abnormally lower than the average individual. During the test I was told several times my breathing was abnormal and accused of holding my breath during questions. When I coughed during a question every thing started really going down hill. The bottom line is, I told the truth to all the questions and failed the test. Maybe I am an isolated case, but physical and medical conditions factored into my failure. I was not told by my tester what questions or reason resulted in my failure. The pre test interview was useless.

EosJupiter wrote on Sep 27^th, 2006 at 11:50pm:


I know and other than retcopper's response, I'm somewhat disappointed. I'd address it but I'm tied up with work and school at the moment... 

When I get a free moment this weekend, I'll put my thoughts down...

i recently took a poly test and failed.. i told the truth and it didnt matter.  did the norm.. closed my eyes and took the 2 hour test.  im bipolar type 1.  does that have anything to do with it.. i did tell him i was bipolar and not on medications.  would that affect the outcome of the test and if so how?

ty