Objective: To investigate the characteristics and significance of near-infrared brain function imaging in patients with depressive disorder after administration of propofol injection. Methods: A total of 28 subjects with depressive disorder diagnosed according to DSM-5 criteria were selected from Xi’an Mental Health Center between January 2022 and January 2025. They were randomly divided into an experimental group (propofol group, n=14) and a control group (intralipid group, n=14) using a random number table. Changes in integral value (IV) and centroid value (CV) before and after treatment were measured using near-infrared brain function imaging. Results: No significant difference was observed in HAMD scores between the two groups 24 hours before treatment (P > 0.05). Repeated-measures ANOVA revealed significant effects of time (F_time = 32.237, P_time < 0.001), group (F_group = 47.027, P_group < 0.001), and their interaction (F_interaction = 31.829, P_interaction < 0.001). The integral values in the frontal and temporal regions were significantly higher in the experimental group than in the control group (P < 0.05). However, no significant differences were found in the centroid values of the frontal or temporal regions between the two groups (P > 0.05). Conclusion: Near-infrared brain function imaging detected specific acute hemodynamic changes in the prefrontal and temporal regions of patients with depressive disorder after propofol intervention. These changes may be related to the mechanism of action of propofol. However, this study did not confirm a direct linear correlation between changes in integral/centroid values and the degree of clinical improvement in depressive symptoms. Propofol intervention combined with deep anesthesia rapidly improved depressive symptoms and was accompanied by enhanced hemodynamic activity in the prefrontal/temporal regions, though its specificity requires further validation.