Correlates of electroconvulsive therapy with neurocognitive functioning, subjective memory and depression

•There was a significant decrease in neurocognitive functioning (as measured by MoCA) score during the acute phase of ECT.•Full recovery of neurocognitive functioning (as measured by MoCA) is achieved after recovery from the acute phase of ECT.•ECT treatment correlated with significant declines in depression, as rated by both the patient and the clinician.•Patients’ own perceptions of memory impairment were not related to their depression scores (both self-reported and rated by the clinician) or with an objective measure of neurocognitive functioning.•Results may also provide support for using the Montreal Cognitive Assessment (MoCA) over the course of ECT as standard of practice for monitoring neurocognitive functioning. The study purpose was to evaluate the impact of a series of electroconvulsive therapy treatments (ECT) on depression and neurocognitive functioning. Secondary objectives were to evaluate the relationships among depression, neurocognitive functioning and subjective memory post-treatment. Data from 44 participants was analyzed over the course of ECT. Montreal Cognitive Assessment (MoCA) scores were gathered pre-ECT, post-acute ECT, and 6-7 weeks subsequently. Montgomery-Asberg Depression Rating Scale (MADRS) data, Patient Health Questionnaire-9 (PHQ-9) data, and patient's subjective memory impairment ratings were gathered pre-ECT and post-acute ECT. Neither patients nor clinicians were blinded. There was a significant decrease of 4.3 points over the acute series of ECT from the first to second MoCA with a p value of