So many ways to take this apart. Here are 3:
Have they never spoken with patients who are at risk of dying due to mere fearful cognitions
I read this as a confession by Reviewer 2 that, having spoken to patients at risk of dying, they chose to assume (and diagnose) that they were suffering the consequences of fearful cognitions, instead of doing their job and looking for a biological cause. I note the choice of "spoken with" rather than "examined". What was it, merely a five minute phone chat? I hope my use of the word "merely" doesn't offend.
Have they never spoken with patients who are at risk of dying due to mere fearful cognitions
To be honest I'd be surprised if anyone has. If there is such a thing, evidence of the mechanism / causation of how this claimed phenomenon occurs is long overdue.
Have they never spoken with patients who are at risk of dying due to mere fearful cognitions
Who assessed the "risk of dying"? Is Reviewer 2 claiming here that they can save lives by the power of their speech alone?
Do we know anyone with a saviour complex who issues a diagnosis after merely "speaking" with a sufferer, or their parent, on the phone? Couldn't be, could it?
EDIT: I've clearly been spending too much time on the other thread, and need to lie down.
Oh, I am lying down.