Symptom validity testing and its underlying psychophysiological response pattern: a preliminary study

Very little is known about the autonomic psychophysiological responses while individuals are executing a Symptom Validity Test. Therefore, the aim of this study is to analyze the peripheral psychophysiological correlates (electrodermal conductance and heart rate) during the performance of the Victoria Symptom Validity Test (VSVT). The sample of this study was composed of 30 participants who underwent the VSVT under two conditions: Exaggeration of cognitive deficits (ECD) and normal effort. Our results showed differences on skin conductance between correct answers and errors limited to the decision-making phase of the ECD condition. Those differences found in the maximum conductance value when participants decide to simulate their deficits could be related to emotional activation. No differences were found on the variable heart rate between the two conditions of the study. Implications of these results are discussed.