I think your observations are perceptive. One saving grace we had was that PTSD was known from previous conflicts, so we could look for the common elements which cut across eras and wars.
This was not as obvious as it sounds however, for the establishment (American Psychiatric Association) had encouraged what I can only call "institutional amnesia" following the Korean War. In 1968 the 2nd edition of the diagnostic manual deleted altogether any entry which related to traumatic events! It only re-appeared in the 1980 edition.
There is a lot of pretty good science in this area now but it doesn't translate easily into lay language or lay experience, so reporters don't bother with it.
I hope others can find help.
A good place to start is www.hadit.com But, they should dig around in posts there first - just my opinion.
Don't even ask me about it, if you don't know.
Freepmail me FRiends. If you know.