800-777-0028

Traumatic Brain Injury

Major & Manic Depression

Major depression affects 15% of Americans at some point during their lives, and 100-million people are affected on any given day. The age of onset is fairly evenly spread out among people. The mean age is 40, but can onset from childhood to seniors. Major depression , and the more serious manic depression , can come on suddenly in days, or build over years. It can be predated by anxiety, phobias, panic and dysthymia.

Over half of the people who experience major depression only have one episode. With each successive episode, the patient has a 15% risk that their next episode will be a manic depression episode , changing their diagnosis to bipolar disorder . In the end, approximately 15-20% of those with major depression become chronically depressed . Approximately 15% of patients with major depression may commit suicide, as well, with men committing suicide at a rate 2 times as often as women.

The main feature of major depression is either an unpleasant mood (feeling down, irritable or apprehensive) or a loss of pleasure in normally enjoyable activities. Contrary to popular thought, this second feature, loss of enjoyment, is the main symptom described by many depressed people, rather than the more well known unpleasant mood.

Major & Manic Depression | Types of Depression | Treatment

Contact Lawrence E. Gursten or Steven M. Gursten 1-800-777-0028

AV Peer Review Rated

Michigan Auto Law is an AV RATED law firm, the highest possible rating for legal ability and ethics. Very few lawyers and law firms in Michigan have been selected with this top rating.

American Association for Justice

Steve Gursten is Chair for the 2008 Interstate Truck Litigation Group for the American Association for Justice (AAJ). Michigan Auto Law has been a long standing member and contributor to the American Association for Justice (AAJ), formerly the American Trial Lawyers Association (ATLA).

Michigan Super Lawyer

Top 5% of Attorneys in Michigan

Michigan Super Lawyer features only the Top 5% of attorneys in Michigan.

3 Michigan Auto Law attorneys
have been featured as

Michigan Super Lawyer:
Lawrence E. Gursten - 2007, 2006
Leonard M. Koltonow - 2007
David E. Christensen - 2007

Bar Register of Preeminent Lawyers

Only 5% of Law Firms in the U.S. Qualify

Only 5% of all U.S. law firms qualify to be included in the Bar Register of Preeminent Lawyers, making Michigan Auto Law one of the most distinguished and respected in the country.

Michigan Lawyer of the Year

Steven M. Gursten was selected as "Lawyer of the Year" for 2005, by Michigan Lawyers Weekly, the state's largest legal periodical. Steve was selected after winning a $9 million dollar pain and suffering settlement for one of his clients - the largest settlement for pain and suffering in Michigan in over ten years.

Michigan Trial Lawyers Association (MTLA)

Robert M. Raitt of Michigan Auto Law is President for the Michigan Trial Lawyers Association (MTLA) for 2008. The attorneys at Michigan Auto Law are well-respected members of the Michigan Trial Lawyers Association (MTLA), dedicated to helping Michigan families seek justice when they are injured by another person's negligence.