Hate crimes based on sexual orientation appear to have more far-reaching psychological effects than other crimes experienced by gays and lesbians, according to a UC Davis research psychologist and principal investigator on a study funded by the National Institute of Mental Health. Lesbian and gay survivors of hate crimes that occurred within the past five years showed more signs of psychological distress, such as depression, stress and anger, than did lesbian and gay survivors of comparable crimes in the same time period that were not motivated by bias, the study shows. While all victims of serious crimes are at risk for such distress, Gregory Herek says, crime-related psychological problems dropped substantially faster among survivors of non- bias crimes -- within two years, compared with five years for hate-crime victims. Conducted in the Sacramento gay community during the past four years, the study is "of special interest because, unlike San Francisco or New York, Sacramento is a not a major gay urban center," Herek says. Herek and his research team presented their findings at a public meeting in Sacramento in late September and are preparing their findings for publication in an academic journal.