L’importanza della valutazione del paziente. Apporti e contributi nella musicoterapia.

The initial assessment of the patient represents one of the fundamental aspects of any therapeutic practice. It involves gathering information related to the patient's personal history in order to detect the presence of syndromes and/or pathologies that may affect the psychological, cognitive, and behavioral systems. This assessment serves as the cornerstone upon which a precise and appropriate rehabilitation treatment is developed according to the patient's needs. In the treatment, measurable criteria will be used to quantify the achievement of the pre-established therapeutic goals in a controlled and rigorous manner. A proper assessment can indeed impact the monitoring, improvement, and adaptation of clinical practice, including that of the music therapist. As a part of the therapeutic professional figures, the music therapist must continue to improve the phase of information gathering and the evaluation of the patient's residual abilities, and integrate/reinforce this modus operandi within their routine so that it becomes an integral and inseparable part of the therapeutic process. This article will explore the importance of the assessment and information acquisition process, and how the use of an integrated qualitative and quantitative approach in evaluation is preferable to the almost exclusively qualitative approach currently used in music therapy practice. Additionally, some standardized tools that can be used in music therapy will be introduced