Elegent structure

"as though it needs to be included"

Can become more elegant:

"as though it need be included"

Is it only with certain verbs that it can happen, since here is another instance with need?

He needn't have concerned himself with sparing me the shock.

I would have written like this:

"He did not need to have concerned himself."

But the former is far more elegant.

Could you tell me how this construction is formed and when it is used please? Is it with the subjunctive perhaps?

Thanks