The Medical Psychiatric Unit (MPU) for Children and Youth at Amsterdam UMC provides care for children facing both psychological and physical challenges that cannot be addressed elsewhere. Originally launched in November 2016 with just 2 beds, the MPU is now expanding to 8 beds. Today marks the official opening of the renovated MPU K&J, in collaboration with Emma Children's Hospital and Levvel.
Unique in the Netherlands, the MPU K&J is the first and only national department dedicated to children and adolescents with severe physical and psychological issues who have struggled within the conventional healthcare system. There is a constant waiting list, as these children cannot afford to wait for assistance. Miranda Fredriks, head of MPU K&J, a pioneering child psychiatrist, and affiliated with our research institute, states, “The MPU offers intensive pediatric and psychiatric diagnosis and treatment. The young patients and their parents often endure a long and challenging journey before being admitted here.”
The unit serves patients aged 8 to 18, including those with severe catatonia, eating disorders, and unexplained physical and psychological symptoms. With a multidisciplinary team of specialized pediatricians, child psychiatrists, psychologists, nurses, and sociotherapists, the MPU delivers tailored care. Additional support comes from family guides, teachers, dietitians, and therapists. The unit features upgraded facilities, including medically equipped rooms and spaces for parents, a music room, and a communal living area that opens into a therapeutic garden.
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