The constrained-occupancy and (linear-response) self-consistent-field methods for the screening of core-hole potentials that affect core-excitation near-edge spectra are considered. The methods are not exact, but each has distinct advantages and limitations. The excitation spectra which are referred to include X-ray absorption spectroscopy (XAS), electron energy-loss spectroscopy (EELS) and nonresonant inelastic X-ray scattering (NRIXS). The screening of interactions that arises is always accompanied by self-energy or lifetime-damping effects of electron and hole states, which are also discussed briefly.