Orodispersible Tablets in Psychiatric and Mood Disorder Management: Clinical Value, Pharmacokinetics, and Patient-Centric Formulation Strategies

OBJECTIVE: To analyse the extensive literature underlying the concept of using and formulating Orodispersible tablets (ODTs) for managing psychiatric and mood disorders. SIGNIFICANCE: Psychiatric and mood disorders represent a major global health burden across all age groups, significantly impairing quality of life and daily functioning. Emotional distress associated with these conditions often leads to poor medication adherence and difficulty swallowing, particularly in vulnerable populations. Thus, an increased emergency intervention is required during acute panic or agitation states. ODTs have emerged as a patient-oriented, rapidly disintegrating oral drug delivery system. It enhances treatment adherence and facilitates faster therapeutic action, especially during acute psychiatric episodes. ODTs offer distinct advantages for antipsychotics, antidepressants, anxiolytics, and mood stabilizers by modulating pharmacokinetic and pharmacodynamic profiles based on the drug's Biopharmaceutics Classification System (BCS). KEY FINDINGS: Recent advances in three-dimensional (3D) printing, nanotechnology, and smart polymer systems have expanded the potential of ODTs. These technologies can effectively address key formulation challenges such as dose loading, poor solubility, moisture sensitivity, and taste masking, and ensure personalized dosing strategies. In parallel, the application of Quality by Design (QbD) and systematic optimization approaches allows the development of robust ODT formulations with adequate mechanical strength, rapid disintegration, and consistent performance. CONCLUSION: The rational development and clinical translation of tailored psychiatric ODTs for patients require adherence to established regulatory frameworks to ensure product quality, safety, efficacy, and patient acceptability.