Aim 1: Establish the safety and feasibility of multiple propofol infusions targeting of electroencephalographic (EEG) slow-wave activity (SWA) without burst suppression in geriatric patients with treatment-resistant depression (TRD) patients.~Aim 2: Compare sleep EEG SWA in geriatric patients with treatment-resistant depression (TRD) patients randomized to two arms: 1) multiple moderate-dose propofol infusions targeting of unconsciousness and electroencephalographic (EEG) slow-wave activity (SWA) without burst suppression vs 2) multiple low-dose propofol infusions targeting unconsciousness with minimal electroencephalographic (EEG) slow-wave activity (SWA) or burst suppression.
Our overall hypothesis is that sleep slow-wave potentiation by propofol is a therapeutic pathway for enhancing slow wave sleep and alleviating treatment-resistant depression (TRD).