PTSD treatment that aided S.F. kids gets trial SAN FRANCISCO Program for youths with stress disorder to get 3-year trial

Dr. Victor Carrion knew his treatment for post-traumatic stress disorder in children worked.

But he couldn't prove it.

A pilot study of a handful of San Francisco Visitacion Valley Middle School students exposed to pervasive community violence had shown the effectiveness of the one-on-one treatment.

With his initial funding used up, the Stanford University researcher needed more money to document the success.

Now he'll get the chance.

An anonymous donor has stepped forward to fund a three-year full trial that will include treating 50 children suffering from PTSD - preferably in San Francisco, Carrion said.

The donation will be funneled through the Lucile Packard Children's Hospital Foundation. The amount and source were undisclosed.

"I'm so happy because we've been waiting for so long to do it," Carrion said of the study. "After this study, I will be able to say this works and give it to the people and train them how to use it."

A year ago, The Chronicle reported on Carrion's work in San Francisco and the devastating effects of PTSD on children as well as their inability to thrive in school.

PTSD is pervasive in violent communities, with a third of children living in those neighborhoods suffering from the mental disorder, according to the U.S. Department of Veteran Affairs and leading child trauma experts. Children in communities such as Bayview-Hunters Point and Visitacion Valley are frequently exposed to gunfire, shootings, stabbings and other gang- or drug-related violence.

The Chronicle's stories drew attention to Carrion's need for funding to scientifically document his treatment.

Carrion's method allows treatment providers to follow an easy-to-use manual that takes a child through a step-by-step program to address the cause and symptoms of PTSD in school-age children.The one-on-one treatment includes about 17 hourlong sessions.

The new funding will enable him to bring in a trained team counselors to treat 25 children, with another 25 in a control group.

When the first group of children is finished, the second group will also receive treatment, Carrion said.

He wants to continue the research in San Francisco schools - where he conducted his pilot study.

Visitacion Valley Middle School Principal Jim Dierke said he'd be thrilled to have Carrion's team back.

"That's really great news," he said, adding he'd be raising his hand to volunteer his school as a trial site. "I'll have both hands raised."

Dierke sees the symptoms of PTSD almost daily - the violent and seemingly inexplicable outbursts, the inability to pay attention and the emotional withdrawal, among others.

"It's showing up all over the place," Dierke said.

Despite the lack of funding, Carrion has trained San Francisco district teachers and staff this year about the symptoms and effects of PTSD.

He's now approached school district and community leaders to find out if they're interested in having him return to treat the children at district schools.

"Some school systems are a good setting to (treat) a lot of the kids that experience that community violence," he said. "This looks like the ideal place for it to be done."