Can Anxiety, Medications, or Medical Issues Affect Your Polygraph Test Results?
When scheduling a polygraph test, it’s natural to have questions or concerns. Many people worry that anxiety, medical conditions, or medications could impact their results. As a Licensed, Advanced Board-Certified, and Court-Certified Polygraph Examiner with over 22 years of experience and more than 18,000 tests administered, I can confidently tell you: these factors will not affect your polygraph results.
Common Questions About Polygraph Testing and Medical Conditions, Health Concerns, and Medications
Here are some common questions I often hear:
“I have severe anxiety—will this affect my polygraph test results?”
“I have a medical issue like heart disease or palpitations—will that cause me to fail?”
“I take ADHD medication to help me focus—will that affect my polygraph test?”
“My son has diabetes—will his medical issues cause him to fail?”
The answer to all these questions is a resounding no. Medical conditions, anxiety, and prescribed medications do not interfere with or have any effect on your polygraph test results when administered by an experienced professional polygraph examiner. Let’s dive deeper into why this is the case.
How Anxiety, Medications, and Medical Conditions Affect Polygraph Tests
Anxiety and Nervousness
Anxiety and nervousness is a natural response for many people undergoing a polygraph test. A skilled examiner knows how to create a calm environment and alleviate the individual's anxiety. As long as the individual understands and answers the questions truthfully, their results will not be impacted.
Medications
ADHD Medications: These often improve focus and have no adverse impact on test results.
Antidepressants: These help regulate mood and do not affect the outcome of a polygraph test.
Pain Medication: These target physical pain and do not interfere with the test.
However, if an individual arrives at their scheduled polygraph examination intoxicated or under the heavy influence of drugs or narcotics, an experienced examiner will easily recognize this and will send that individual away. Showing up in such a state raises a significant red flag. Why would someone go to such lengths? The answer is simple: they likely have something to hide and believe being intoxicated might influence the results in their favor.
In reality, using drugs or alcohol will not help anyone manipulate or improve their polygraph test results. Instead, it undermines the integrity of the process and demonstrates an unwillingness to be truthful.
Medical Conditions
Medical conditions such as heart disease, diabetes, high blood pressure, or acid reflux do not affect the accuracy of a polygraph test. If an examiner refuses to administer a test due to a person's medical condition, it not only demonstrates their inexperience but also constitutes a violation of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA)—a Civil Rights Act passed by Congress. Such behavior is both unethical and illegal. Avoid examiners like this, as their refusal to test reflects a lack of professionalism and expertise, potentially causing you unnecessary stress simply by claiming they cannot test you.
As an examiner with experience administering over 18,000 polygraph tests, I have had the privilege of helping individuals from all walks of life. I have assisted people in clearing their names and avoiding wrongful incarceration, supported service members in retaining their honor, and worked to protect children and teens from abusive sexual predators. I have also helped women who were victims of sexual abuse reclaim their integrity and move forward, provided support to survivors of domestic violence seeking freedom from danger, and offered individuals in relationships the closure they needed.
From my experience, it is very common for individuals to arrive for testing with anxiety, PTSD, or medical issues. An experienced examiner knows how to alleviate anxiety and provide reassurance, ensuring the individual fully understands the questions and answers them openly and truthfully. When administered by an experienced examiner, neither anxiety nor medical issues will interfere with the accuracy of a polygraph test.
What Really Affects Polygraph Results?
The primary factor that impacts polygraph test results is the experience and expertise of the examiner. Here’s why:
An inexperienced examiner may misinterpret the results or fail to administer the test properly.
Examiners who lack ongoing training, are resistant to new advancements in polygraph techniques, or rely solely on outdated methods should be avoided.
An examiner who has never testified in court or been hired or subpoenaed by attorneys likely lacks the credibility to handle complex cases. Even if your case doesn’t involve court proceedings, it’s important to choose an examiner who can confidently defend their testing if required.
Poorly crafted or irrelevant questions during the test can result in inconclusive results, leading to confusion or inaccurate outcomes.
If you’ve ever received an inconclusive result after taking a polygraph test from your examiner, it is not your fault. It is the inexperienced examiner’s fault who cannot tell if you have told the truth or have lied on your test. You, as an individual, when arriving, know if you were going to be open, truthful, and honest or a pathetic liar and hold back information. If you’ve ever received an inconclusive result, it just means the inexperienced examiner could not tell which one you were: truthful or a pathetic liar.
Beware of Inexperienced Polygraph Examiners
When choosing a polygraph examiner, do your due diligence and research the examiner(s) extensively. Read their reviews online.. reviews tell you everything you need to know. Do not settle for the first examiner you find. Avoid examiners who:
Offer unreasonably low prices or immediate availability without considering your specific case.
Lack of credentials, courtroom experience, or consistently positive reviews from clients.
Fail to create a professional environment that helps reduce anxiety and ensures clear communication.
Your Results Depend on the Examiner’s Experience, Not Your Health
In conclusion, medical conditions, anxiety, or medications will not affect your polygraph test results. What truly matters is the expertise and professionalism of the examiner conducting your test. Don’t hesitate to schedule a polygraph examination if it can provide the answers and resolution you seek. A skilled, experienced examiner will ensure that your health or mental state does not interfere with the accuracy of the results. With the right examiner, you can trust that you’re in good hands.
If Executive Protection Group Polygraph Service can help you, please don’t hesitate to call us to schedule your real, authentic, professional polygraph examination to resolve your important matter.
Take the pivotal step towards peace of mind by connecting with Mr. David Goldberg, the founder of Executive Protection Group Polygraph Service. With over a combined 30 years of experience in administering polygraph examinations as an Advanced Board-Certified Polygraph Examiner and Investigator, Mr. David Goldberg brings unparalleled expertise.
Our mission at Executive Protection Group Polygraph Service is clear: to eliminate doubts and ensure you find the closure you deserve to move forward in your life. Specializing in comprehensive and confidential polygraph examinations, we serve clients in Hampton Roads, including Virginia Beach, Norfolk, Chesapeake, Portsmouth, Newport News, Suffolk, Hampton, and beyond. Led by Mr. David Goldberg, a Virginia State Licensed Advanced Board-Certified Polygraph Examiner and nationally recognized expert, our commitment is to deliver immediate, reliable, and accurate results.
To explore how we can assist you further, review our polygraph services or call Executive Protection Group Polygraph Service today to schedule your polygraph examination. Take the first step towards resolution and peace of mind with us.
