Dataset associated with the conference paper "Screening Tools for Identifying Mental Frailty: A Rapid Review with an Interpretative Approach"

Introduction: In recent decades, the biopsychosocial model of understanding health has become increasingly established, conceptualizing frailty as a multidimensional construct; however, mental frailty remains insufficiently emphasized. The aim of this rapid literature review was to identify the key components of mental frailty within frailty screening scales. Methods: A rapid literature review was conducted in PubMed, Web of Science, and CINAHL between February and April 2026. The following keywords were used: frailty, instrument, scale, screening tool, and elderly, combined using the Boolean operators AND and OR. The data were analyzed using thematic analysis with an interpretative approach. Results: A total of 2809 records were identified, of which 31 were included in the final review. Seven thematic domains representing mental frailty within the identified screening tools were identified: (1) fatigue/exhaustion, (2) depressive mood, (3) anxiety/stress, (4) loss of motivation, (5) social isolation, (6) low self-esteem, and (7) positive mental health. Discussion and conclusion: Mental frailty is inconsistently defined across the reviewed screening tools, reflecting a broader issue of fragmentation of the biopsychosocial model of frailty in both research and clinical practice. A consensus among experts and the wider professional community is needed to determine whether existing tools detect mental frailty adequately and timely.