The British Journal of Psychiatry (2006) 188: 479-483. doi: 10.1192/bjp.bp.105.008953
© 2006 The Royal College of Psychiatrists
This Article
Right arrow Full Text
Right arrow Full Text (PDF)
Right arrow Data supplement
Right arrow Submit an eLetter
Right arrow Alert me when this article is cited
Right arrow Alert me when eLetters are posted
Right arrow Alert me if a correction is posted
Services
Right arrow Email this article to a friend
Right arrow Related articles in BJP
Right arrow Similar articles in this journal
Right arrow Similar articles in PubMed
Right arrow Alert me to new issues of the journal
Right arrow Download to citation manager
Citing Articles
Right arrow Citing Articles via CrossRef
Right arrow Citing Articles via Google Scholar
Right arrow Citing Articles via Scopus
Google Scholar
Right arrow Articles by GRUBIN, D.
Right arrow Articles by MADSEN, L.
Right arrow Search for Related Content
PubMed
Right arrow PubMed Citation
Right arrow Articles by GRUBIN, D.
Right arrow Articles by MADSEN, L.

Accuracy and utility of post-conviction polygraph testing of sex offenders

DON GRUBIN, MD FRCPsych and LARS MADSEN, BBehSc, MClinPsy

St Nicholas Hospital, Newcastle upon Tyne, UK

Correspondence: Professor D. Grubin, St Nicholas Hospital, Gosforth, Newcastle upon Tyne NE3 3XT, UK. E-mail: don.grubin{at}ncl.ac.uk

Declaration of interest None. Funding detailed in Acknowledgements.

Background Polygraphyis used increasingly in the treatment and supervision of sex offenders, but little research has addressed its accuracy in this setting, or linked accuracy with utility.

Aims To investigate the utility and accuracy of polygraphyin post-conviction testing of community-based sex offenders.

Method A self-report measure examined the experiences of offenders with polygraphy.

Results Based on self-report, the polygraph’s accuracy was approximately 85%. False negatives and false positives were not associated with demographic characteristics, personality variables or IQ. The majority of offenders found the polygraph to be helpful in both treatment and supervision. Nine percent of offenders claimed to have made false disclosures; these individuals had higher scores on ratings of neuroticism and lower scores on ratings of conscientiousness.

Conclusions These results supportthe view thatthe polygraph is both accurate and useful in the treatment and supervision of sex offenders.


Related articles in BJP:

PETER TYRER
BJP 2006 188: 500. [Full Text]