Propofol for depression: mechanisms and therapeutic potential
Frontiers in Physiology August 10, 2026 Dan Yu, Ye Liao, Jie Li et al.
Propofol, one of the most widely used intravenous anesthetics, is undergoing a transformative identity shift from a purely surgical agent to a potential therapeutic tool for neuropsychiatric disorders. This review synthesizes current evidence on the emerging field of propofol therapeutics, with a focus on its rapid antidepressant, anti-anhedonia, and anxiolytic effects. We first examine...