Given both the size of the Soviet armed forces and the intensity of the fighting (as well as the staggering scale of the atrocities that were committed in Eastern Europe) did the Soviet medical system have processes to identify and possibly treat Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder(PTSD) amongst its demobilized soldiers in the years following WWII ?
I know that in the West after the war, a common treatment paradigm was through the institutional model (asylums and hospital), and that it put severe strain on the mental health system - did the Soviets institutionalize as well? Did they have support groups? Different treatment options? Or would it be undiagnosed for political/cultural reasons?
did the Soviets institutionalize as well?
Yes, most clinical cases. There were special hospitals for war veterans - most were established in 60s-70s. Many severely disabled veterans were staying in them for many years (10-20 yrs of stay was not unheard of) with complete state provision.
Some were sent to mental institutions and jailed for crimes.
Did they have support groups?
Not in western sense. Veterans from the same unit were often assembled together for celebrations of state holidays, such as 9^th of May - Victory Day or unit-specific important dates. They also were invited to schools to tell their war stories. That was especially popular in 70s. As many veterans would know, telling and re-telling war experience helps. Many veterans published memoirs, written by themselves or processed by professional writers.
Or would it be undiagnosed for political/cultural reasons?
Purely psychological damage might be left untreated, esp. right after war and up until late 50s. But not for purely political reasons - country was in ruins and not exactly awash in resources. So in late 40s-early 50s you could say that millions of veterans were left to their own devices - it often led to quick death from alcohol abuse or incarceration.
For political reasons many severe cases (esp. with criminal side) weren't reported. But state always reacted to a problem - albeit with delay.
Different treatment options?
Sure.
complete institutionalization
periodic institutionalization (e.g. once a year)
periodic visits to specialized clinic
etc.
Sources
Psychological rehabilitation of war veterans, PhD Dissertation, 1997 Describes history of psychological treatment of veterans in USSR/Russia and discusses flaws of established approach.
Sverdlovsk Psycho-neurological Hospital for War Veterans Established in 1953. New, much larger building constructed in 1983. Second stage of expansion finished in 1995.
Novosibirsk Hospital for War Veterans Now treats mostly Afghan and Chechen war veterans.